LivaNova PLC is facing a new heart surgery infection lawsuit from a South Carolina man filing legal action on behalf of himself and an entire class of patients.

The heart surgery infection lawsuit alleges that he and numerous other patients may have been negatively impacted by the company’s Sorin 3T System due to the risk of potential bacterial infections.

Plaintiff Steven F. underwent open heart surgery using the Sorin 3T System on March 13, 2014, to regulate his body temperature during the procedure.

Soon after his procedure, Greenville Health and Palmetto Health had announced that Steven and other patients may have been exposed to a dangerous bacterium during their open heart procedures.

Prior to Greenville Health’s June 20, 2014, and Palmetto Health’s Dec. 16, 2016, announcements, Steven and other patients had no knowledge of potential surgical bacterial infection.

Steven is filing this heart surgery infection lawsuit on behalf of himself and thousands of other patients who underwent open chest surgery procedures during the specified time period, and is calling for class action status.

Overview of Heart Surgery Infection Lawsuit

The Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler System, or the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler, is a heater-cooler device consisting of temperature controlled water tanks that are meant to help regulate patients’ bodies during heart surgeries.

By regulating body temperature during these procedures, it keeps the organs and blood at an ideal temperate during these delicate surgeries.

While the water tanks of the device do not make direct contact with patients, both the FDA and CDC have warned that “there is a potential for contaminated water to enter other parts of the device and aerosolize.”

This means that bacterial particles can be be transmitted through the air, and into the device’s exhaust vent that affects the patient and their environment.

The bacterium at the epicenter of the concern is the rare non-tuberculosis myobacterium, called myobacterium chimaera. These devices may have been infected with this bacterium when they were manufactured in Germany which has caused major concern to patients and the medical community.

Steven argues that class action status is needed for his heart surgery infection lawsuit, due to the numerous amount of patients that may allege similar injuries.

Furthermore, class action is needed for the heart surgery infection lawsuit because individual complaints would be impractical and inconvenient for both parties.

By consolidating numerous similar lawsuits, legal resources can be conserved and the litigation process can be hastened. Steven states that he never would have used the Sorin 3T System if he had known the risks associated with the device.

Steven is seeking class action status of his heart surgery lawsuit to seek compensation and product liability damages on behalf of himself and similarly situated patients.

The Heart Surgery Infection Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00218-BHH, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division.