medical deviceIf you or a loved one has developed a serious, potentially life-threatening infection following a surgical procedure, a medical device called the Bair Hugger patient warmer is currently under fire for making infection more likely. Our experienced lawyers can determine if the Bair Hugger warming blanket used during your procedure is to blame for the infection you developed. File a lawsuit against its manufacturer 3M, so that you may collect compensation for your injuries.

Contact the defective medical lawyers at Peterson & Associates, P.C. today for a free case review—call 816-888-8888 or fill out our online contact form.

What Is the Bair Hugger?

The Bair Hugger warming blanket, manufactured by 3M, is a medical device that is designed to help maintain a patient’s body temperature during a surgical procedure while the patient is under anesthesia.

Warm air is moved into a blanket that is draped over the patient to help keep the patient’s body temperature up, preventing hypothermia. By regulating a patient’s body temperature, recovery times can be much quicker. The Bair Hugger warm air blanket is widely used and can be found in an estimated 80% of hospitals in the United States.

If you have undergone a joint replacement surgery, watch for these symptoms, which could indicate your joint replacement has become infected:

  • Pain when using the joint
  • Increased stiffness when using the joint
  • Swelling around the joint
  • Fatigue
  • Surgical wound is red warm to the touch
  • Drainage from the wound
  • Chills, night sweats, or fever

Warnings from Warm Air Blanket Inventor

Dr. Scott Augustine, inventor of the Bair Hugger, has come forward stating the dangers associated with using this device. He advised surgeons and other physicians to quit using the device during operations.

After reviewing several medical studies, Dr. Augustine agreed that the forced air warming system could cause the surgical field to become contaminated, due to the device causing operating room contaminants to become airborne.

Bair Hugger Lawsuits

Several lawsuits have been filed against Bair Hugger’s manufacturer, 3M. One such lawsuit claims that use of the Bair Hugger led to a deep joint infection, which caused the patient to need an additional 15 operations to fix the damage. Another patient had to have her leg amputated due to a MRSA infection, which her case argues developed from the introduction of bacteria via the Bair Hugger.

The Bair Hugger warming blanket is facing numerous lawsuits claiming it is a defective medical device, and if it was used in your procedure, it may be a factor behind the infection you developed after surgery. By filing a Bair Hugger lawsuit, you can pursue compensation for your injury and the losses you have suffered because of it.

Contact our personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free case evaluation.

You may be able to collect compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, time off work, and other damages depending on the severity and extent of your injury. A defective medical device lawyer can help you pursue a case, holding 3M accountable for the faulty medical equipment they produced.

Contact a Defective Medical Device Lawyer Now

If you or a loved one has developed an infection following a joint replacement surgery, the Bair Hugger warm air blanket may have been the cause. You may feel like you don’t have any options—but our attorneys have a proven history of claims success. We know how to lead patients through situations just like yours. If you call us, we can help you figure out your options too.

The team of lawyers at our firm can review your case, determine whether or not the 3M Bair Hugger caused your infection or injuries, and inform you if you may be able to receive compensation for your pain and suffering.