Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits

warm air blanket The Bair Hugger, manufactured by 3M, has been linked to an increased risk of MRSA, sepsis and other life-threatening infections.

If you developed a serious infection after surgery, the Bair Hugger warming blanket may have been used and could have been the cause of your infection.

Contact the defective product lawyers at Schmidt Kramer today to discuss your Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuit. We offer free case evaluations, and will review your claim thoroughly in order to determine if you should move forward with filing a lawsuit.

Call us at (717) 888-8888 today or fill out our online form.

About the Bair Hugger

What is the 3M Bair Hugger?

The Bair Hugger is a forced air warming system. This medical device blows warm air into a blanket, which is laid over an anesthetized patient during a surgical procedure. By surrounding the patient with warm air, their body temperature can easily be kept in check, preventing it from dropping too low.

By keeping the patient’s body temperature stable, use of this device may improve recovery times. The Bair Hugger warm air blanket is used in approximately 80 percent of hospitals throughout the country.

Risk of Infection

Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Increases Joint Infection Risk

Use of the Bair Hugger patient warmer and similar medical devices have been linked to a higher risk of post-operative joint infections. Higher joint infection risks have been noted in knee replacement and hip replacement procedures where the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used.

When the warm air blanket is used during the surgery, it can actually cause operating room contaminants to become airborne. Through the forced air system, these contaminants can be introduced to the surgical field, and even inside a patient’s wound.

Harmful bacteria introduced by the use of the warm air blanket during surgery can cause severe deep joint infections to develop after surgery. These deep joint infections may require additional operations as your implanted joint device may require replacement, the infection joint tissues may need to be cleaned out, and you may need to be treated with intravenous antibiotics.

If you have recently undergone joint replacement surgery, you should look out for the following signs that could alert you if a joint infection is developing:

Joint pain and stiffness
Swelling around the joint
Wound is warm and red
Wound drainage

Fatigure
Chills and sweats
Fever

Inventor Warnings

Inventor Warns Doctors of Danger

Even the inventor of the Bair Hugger has spoken out regarding the dangers of using this defective medical device.

Dr. Scott Augustine has stated to physicians that warming blankets should no longer be used during surgical procedures.

Multiple medical studies have shown that warming blanket introduces contaminants to the surgical field, which can lead to infection.

Filing a Lawsuit

Bair Hugger Lawsuits

Many people have filed lawsuits against 3M for injuries caused due to the use of the Bair Hugger warming blanket during surgical procedures. In one case, a 70-year-old patient developed a deep joint infection after the use of the Bair Hugger during surgery, and had to undergo 15 more surgeries to correct the damage.

A female patient developed a MRSA infection after the warming blanket was used in her knee replacement surgery, which resulted in a partial leg infection; she now is in a wheelchair.

Infections and injuries caused by the use of defective medical devices, such as the Bair Hugger, can cause serious injury to the patient. Filing a lawsuit will allow you to pursue compensation for the injuries you have sustained and the pain you have suffered.

You may be able to recover compensation for medical and surgical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A defective product lawyer will work with you to compile a strong case, and file a lawsuit to hold Bair Hugger’s manufacturer accountable for issues caused by their faulty medical device.

Contact a Defective Product Lawyer Today

If you developed a serious infection following a surgery where the Bair Hugger warming blanket was used, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against Bair Hugger’s manufacturer, 3M.

Our legal team has been representing clients throughout the state of Pennsylvania for over 25 years, fighting for justice and holding the manufacturers of defective medical equipment accountable for the problems these devices cause.

Contact the injury attorneys at Schmidt Kramer today by calling (717) 888-8888 or by contacting us online.

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3M Bair Hugger Lawsuit