Des Moines Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Injury Lawyers

Contact an Iowa Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Injury Lawyer today for a free consultation. 515-495-6316 or via email.

Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Infection Lawyer

The Bair Hugger is a warming blanket that many hospitals use during surgery. Unfortunately, the air movement caused by the blanket can move contaminated air over open wounds and, as a result, has been linked to deep joint infections (such as MRSA) which often require revision surgery.

These infections seem to be most prevalent in knee and hip replacement surgeries. The majority of patients who undergo such surgeries use a Bair Hugger yet aren’t aware of it.

Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with any type of deep joint infection following a surgery, contact an Iowa Bair Hugger Warming Blanket personal injury lawyer today to discuss your injury and learn your rights.

We can be reached at 515-495-6316 or via email. There is never a fee unless we make a recovery for you.

Iowa Bair Hugger Warming Blanket FAQ

Surgical warming blankets were designed to help patients maintain safe body temperatures during operations. The Bair Hugger forced-air warming system became standard equipment in operating rooms across the country, used during joint replacement surgeries and other procedures requiring temperature regulation. However, evidence suggests these devices may create air currents that circulate bacteria from the operating room floor directly into open surgical sites, leading to devastating deep joint infections. At Law Group of Iowa, we represent patients who developed infections after surgeries where Bair Hugger devices were used, pursuing compensation from the manufacturer for preventable complications.

Who Manufactures The Bair Hugger System?

3M Company manufactures and marketed the Bair Hugger forced-air warming system. The device includes a heating unit that blows warm air through a disposable blanket placed over patients during surgery. Dr. Scott Augustine, the original inventor, has since raised concerns about the design’s potential to circulate contaminated air. 3M faces liability claims alleging the company knew about infection risks but failed to adequately warn surgeons and hospitals about these dangers.

What Infections Are Linked To These Devices?

Deep joint infections occur when bacteria enter surgical sites during procedures, requiring aggressive treatment. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections prove particularly difficult to treat and eliminate. Prosthetic joint infections develop around artificial hips, knees, and shoulders implanted during surgery. Osteomyelitis involves bone infection that can spread throughout skeletal structures. Sepsis occurs when infections enter the bloodstream and cause systemic complications. These infections often don’t appear until weeks or months after surgery, requiring revision surgeries and prolonged antibiotic treatments.

Why Does Forced Air Allegedly Cause Problems?

The warming unit sits on the floor near the operating table where bacteria and contaminants accumulate. Forced air from the device creates currents that lift floor contaminants upward. These air currents can disrupt the laminar airflow systems designed to keep surgical sites sterile. Bacteria circulated by the device may settle directly into open incisions during procedures. Alternative warming methods including resistive warming blankets don’t create these disruptive air currents. Studies and research have questioned the safety of forced-air warming in orthopedic surgeries.

How Do We Prove The Device Caused Your Infection?

Medical records showing Bair Hugger use during your surgery establish device exposure. Infection diagnosis and treatment documentation demonstrate timing and severity. Surgical reports detail the procedure, duration, and conditions during operation. Culture results identify specific bacteria causing your infection. Timeline analysis shows infection developed after surgery rather than from pre-existing conditions. Medical testimony from infectious disease specialists and orthopedic surgeons explains causation. Research studies linking forced-air warming to increased infection rates support claims.

What Damages Do Infection Victims Recover?

Revision surgery costs to remove infected prosthetic joints and clean infected areas create substantial expenses. Extended hospitalizations and intravenous antibiotic therapy add significant medical bills. Multiple surgical procedures over months or years require ongoing treatment. Lost wages during prolonged recovery periods affect financial stability. Reduced earning capacity results when infections cause permanent limitations. Pain and suffering from multiple surgeries and chronic infections warrant compensation. Reduced mobility and quality of life when joint replacements fail permanently deserve additional damages.

Why Didn’t Your Surgeon Warn You About Risks?

Many surgeons weren’t aware of potential infection risks associated with forced-air warming. 3M’s marketing emphasized the device’s benefits without adequately disclosing infection concerns. Operating room staff trusted that widely-used equipment had been properly tested and proven safe. The manufacturer’s failure to provide adequate warnings left medical professionals unaware of risks. Even the device’s inventor has since criticized its use in certain surgical settings.

How Long After Surgery Do Infections Develop?

Some infections appear within weeks of surgery with obvious symptoms including pain, swelling, and fever. Others develop slowly over months as bacteria multiply around prosthetic joints. Chronic low-grade infections may not produce clear symptoms for extended periods. Any infection developing within a year of surgery involving Bair Hugger use warrants investigation. We help clients establish the connection between device use and later infection development.

What Should You Do If You Developed Surgical Infections?

Request complete medical records from your surgery including equipment lists and operative reports. Document all infection treatment including antibiotics, revision surgeries, and ongoing care. Identify whether Bair Hugger warming was used during your procedure. Keep records of all expenses, lost work time, and ongoing medical needs. Contact us to evaluate whether your infection timing and circumstances support a claim. Time limitations apply to medical device claims, making prompt action important for preserving your rights.

The Bair Hugger warming system may have exposed you to preventable infection risks during surgery. A bair hugger warming blanket injury lawyer Iowa patients trust can investigate your case, gather medical evidence, and pursue compensation from 3M for infections and revision surgeries. We understand medical device litigation and infection causation issues. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation. Contact us today to discuss your surgical infection.

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