Many complications may arise during surgery. Surgeons and assistants monitor blood loss, anesthesia levels, infection, and surrounding tissue damage. Hypothermia is also a primary concern for patients. Cold operating rooms, open incisions, and anesthetics interfere with the body’s temperature. During surgery, a patient’s temperature can drop between 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid hypothermia complications, warming patients is standard practice. But, one warming device, Bair Hugger warming blankets, may cause severe injuries and in some instances, death. Has a Bair Hugger warming blanket injured you or a loved one? Reach out today to learn more about how a Bair Hugger warming blanket lawyer at The Lake Law Firm can help you file a lawsuit.
Our law firm is currently handling lawsuits on behalf of individuals harmed by Bair Hugger warming blankets.
Bair Hugger warming blankets are medical devices that stabilize body temperature before, during, and after surgery. Hospitals nationwide have used the warming blankets on millions of patients. These units filter the air and force warm air through the blankets. The devices also have drain holes to avoid evaporation, and the blankets do not heat areas at risk for burns. Patients can maintain a body heat of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit as the warming blankets pump hot air onto the body. The blankets are disposable to prevent infections between patients.
Arizant Healthcare originally manufactured Bair Hugger warming blankets. However, in 2010, The 3M Company purchased Arizant for $810 million.
In 1987, the FDA cleared the Bair Hugger warming blanket through the 510(k) program. This program allows the approval of a medical device without clinical proof of its safety if a similar program is on the market. Over the years, the FDA has received multiple complaints over the Bair Hugger warming blanket. Regardless, in 2017, the FDA recommended that healthcare providers continue to use the blankets.
In January 2018, 3M recalled more than 165,000 Bair Hugger warming blankets. This recall came after reports identified a design defect. This design defect prevented the surgical devices from fully inflating. If the warming blanket only partially inflates, it cannot warm the patient. Amidst the recall, a hospital reported a patient went into hypothermia while using a Bair Hugger warming blanket.
In addition to the inflating malfunction, lawsuits claim that 3M Bair Hugger warming blankets present a risk for bacterial contamination. During surgery, it is vital that the surgical tools and rooms are kept completely sterile to avoid infecting the patient. Operating rooms have special systems that circulate the air to inhibit airborne particles. Experts theorize that the warmer air released by the blanket disrupts the air circulation and creates currents that carry bacteria into the surgical site.
Hospitals relied on Bair Hugger warming blankets to protect patients from hypothermia. Yet, a massive recall and several complaints over time highlight the risks of these warming blankets. Even the inventor of the Bair Hugger warming blanket, Dr. Scott D. Augustine, has spoken out against the medical device. Dr. Augustine claims that warming blankets increase a patient’s chance of infection, specifically in the joints. Patients who had surgery in which a Bair Hugger warming blanket was used, may suffer:
3M Bair Hugger warming blankets can induce severe health complications by potentially exposing patients to bacterial contaminants. An attorney at The Lake Law Firm is on standby to speak with you if a Bair Hugger warming blanket harmed you.
Thousands have filed lawsuits against 3M and Arizant Healthcare. The lawsuits claim that patients needed revision surgery and amputations and, in some cases, died due to the warming blankets.
In 2015, thousands of warming blanket lawsuits were pending in a federal multi-district litigation. After years of litigation, a trial judge dismissed all remaining cases in 2019 on the grounds that plaintiffs’ expert testimony was unreliable. But, in 2021, a U.S. Court of Appeals overturned that decision. The appeals court determined the trial judge erred in excluding experts whose opinions supported claims that Bair Hugger warming blankets contaminate the surgical site with bacteria. This ruling reinstated over 5,000 warming blanket lawsuits. 3M filed a petition to fight the decision, but the Supreme Court rejected the company’s plea.
As of November 2023, there were 6,011 Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuits pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
If you or a loved one experienced complications following surgery that involved a Bair Hugger warming blanket, you may qualify for a Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuit. A Bair Hugger warming blanket lawsuit may help you recover compensation for:
Braving surgery is a scary endeavor for patients and their loved ones. While there are inherent risks to any surgery, the complications allegedly caused by Bair Hugger warming blankets were preventable. To emerge from surgery with more injuries is frustrating and even life-threatening for some. Insufficient testing and action by Azirant and 3M may have resulted in thousands of needless injuries. If you are among those inured by these medical devices, contact us today to speak with a Bair Hugger warming blanket lawyer.
The Lake Law Firm was founded by Edward J. Lake, Esq., a personal injury lawyer for over 25 years. Our dedicated team of attorneys is committed to seeking justice on behalf of those who have suffered injury or death due to the negligence of others. Our experienced attorneys handle many different types of pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and other defective products. The lawyers in our firm have helped collect millions of dollars for their clients. The Lake Law Firm will advocate for you and your rights. Please contact us for a free confidential case evaluation at (888) 525-3529 or submit an inquiry on this page.
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