Amanda Antell  |  September 30, 2016

Category: Legal News

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3M-Bair-HuggerManufacturing giant 3M is facing a new Bair Hugger lawsuit after a New York woman allegedly developed a deep joint infection after the warming blanket was used on her during surgery.

According to the Bair Hugger lawsuit, the warming blanket was placed on the her during her surgery and bacterial cells entered the surgical site.

While warming blankets are popularly used to keep patients warm during surgeries, the lawsuit alleges the blanket’s forced air warming mechanism causes bacteria to enter the patients’ surgical sites.

Plaintiff Providence M. is filing this Bair Hugger lawsuit against 3M and Arizant HealthCare Inc. for failing to warn her against the possibility of deep joint infections.

On Sept. 23, 2013, Providence underwent a surgery during which a Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming system was used.

The Bair Hugger lawsuit indicates that by using the warming device, Providence developed a deep joint infection.  Her doctors reportedly found the presence of Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus post-surgery.

As an alleged result of using the Bair Hugger, Providence has had undergo multiple irrigation and debridement surgeries and other treatment procedures. According to her Bair Hugger lawsuit, these procedures were conducted between Dec. 13, 2014 and June 02, 2016.

Overview of Bair Hugger Complications

The Bair Hugger is a forced air warming blanket which is often used in hospitals to regulate patients’ temperatures who are undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery.

The Bair Hugger blanket is connected to a portable heater, which blows hot air onto the patient’s skin while under anesthesia to regulate body temperature. By keeping patients warm during these procedures, the risks of bleeding are reduced while the recovery time is shortened.

However, it has been alleged that the filtering process of the Bair Hugger may expose the patient to potential contaminates which may lead to deep joint infections.

 

A recent study from the 2013 issue of Bone & Joint Journal found that forced air warming significantly increased the number of airborne particles that would come into contact with the surgical site. While this study did not conclude that these additional particles included bacteria, the authors of the study did say their findings were concerning.

Providence is seeking damages for failure to warn and multiple counts of negligence.

Providence’s Bair Hugger lawsuit is joining a multidistrict litigation (MDL), where it will stand alongside similar claims. Consolidation of similar lawsuits lowers the chances of getting conflicting rulings from different judges and helps to conserve a great amount of legal resources.

The Bair Hugger Lawsuit is part of In Re: Bair Hugger Forced Air Warming Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2666 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

In general, Bair Hugger lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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