Pharmaceutical giants 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare Inc. are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) consisting of 3M Bair Hugger product liability claims. One of the most recent 3M Bair Hugger lawsuits comes from a New York woman who alleges she suffered serious health problems as a direct result of using the forced air warming device.

Plaintiff Maureen B. filed this 3M Bair Hugger lawsuit, alleging the companies either knew or should have known about the device’s potentially dangerous nature, but had failed to warn the general public.

According to the claim, Maureen had undergone a total right knee replacement surgery on March 17, 2015, and surgeons utilized the 3M Bair Hugger device during the procedure.

The 3M Bair Hugger is a forced air warming device which is often used to help maintain a healthy body temperature in patients who are under anesthesia. The device consists of a disposable blanket that is connected to a portable heater, which blows hot air onto the patient’s skin. This helps maintain body temperature, which is supposed to help improve recovery rates.

However, it has been alleged that the device interferes with the operating room’s sterile environment, with studies showing the 3M Bair Hugger may cause convection currents and collect air from nonsterile areas. This may cause contaminated air to blow directly onto the surgical site, which can potentially result in deep joint infection.

This was allegedly the case with Maureen, who had to undergo intensive medical treatment after being diagnosed with the postoperative infection. According to the 3M Bair Hugger lawsuit, Maureen had to be prescribed antibiotics and undergo multiple revision surgeries to treat the deep joint infection surrounding the knee implant.

Within less than six months, Maureen says she went through three intense treatment procedures for the deep joint infection and is still contending with the condition. Maureen opted to file the 3M Bair Hugger lawsuit after discovering numerous other patients had similar experiences and that there were several studies indicating this correlation.

Overview of 3M Bair Hugger Complications

Several studies have indicated forced-air warming devices like the 3M Bair Hugger may cause bacterial infections to develop in deep joint infections. One of these studies was published in 2011 in the American Journal of Infection Control, which found that 58 percent of forced air warmers studied had produced airborne bacterial contaminants.

In addition, the study observed a high volume of occurrence in patients who underwent hip or knee replacement surgery. Other studies have found similar results, spurring major concern in the medical community. Patients who develop deep joint infections are at risk for serious health problems that may require severe medical treatments, including:

• Hospitalization
• Multiple revision surgeries
• Joint implant removal and revision
• Physical therapy
• Placement of antibiotic spacer in infected joint
• IV antibiotic treatment
• Amputation

Even though these problems can be devastating to patients, 3M Company and Arizant Healthcare Inc. allegedly failed to warn Maureen against them.

Maureen’s 3M Bair Hugger lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2666, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining an MDL, Maureen will avoid long waiting periods during litigation and will avoid potential problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This 3M Bair Hugger Lawsuit is Case No. 0:18-cv-00628-JNE-FLN, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.