Medical devices and equipment are necessary for the care and treatment of millions of individuals in the United States each year. Like any other type of product, medical devices and equipment can be defective and can cause injury to users. Because many people who require medical equipment are already vulnerable, the complications and injuries they face can be severe.
One setting in which proper medical equipment is critical is in the operating room. During surgery, patients are particularly susceptible to infection and other complications. One piece of widely-used medical equipment that has caused unnecessary injury during surgery is the Bair Hugger warming blanket, manufactured by 3M and Arizant.
Bair Hugger warming blankets and units are used to regulate the body temperature for patients who are under anesthesia. More than 80 percent of hospitals use this equipment to avoid dangerous hypothermia during surgery. Unfortunately, this forced-air warming therapy can cause serious issues in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.
Infections during joint replacements
Orthopedic surgeries involving implants—such as hip or knee replacements—already have a high risk of infection due to contamination. The forced-air warming system in the Bair Hugger blankets can increase the risk of contamination during surgery. Those two factors combined have led to numerous deep joint infections in post-operative joint replacement patients.
Such infections can be very dangerous, especially for older patients or patients with weaker immune systems. Post-surgical joint infections can require extensive medical treatment including but not limited to:
- Additional surgery for implant revision
- Extended hospitalization
- Amputation of the infected limb and joint
- Permanent impairment and disability in the infected joint
- Death if the infection is not properly diagnosed and treated
Do you have a legal claim against 3M and Arizant?
Even the inventor of the Bair Hugger warming blankets has said that, knowing what we now know about the risk of infection, the devices should no longer be used in surgeries involving implants. However, 3M continues to make them and hospitals continue to use them.
If you have suffered infection because of this warming device, you should discuss your legal rights with an experienced Bair Hugger warming blanket attorney as soon as possible. Call Michigan Injury Lawyers at (888) 454-0801 for help today.