Bair Hugger Surgical Blankets Lawsuits Continue to Grow

As of September of this year, almost 700 lawsuits have been filed alleging the Bair Hugger Warming blankets used in their joint replacement surgeries caused infections and severe injuries. The lawsuits have been consolidated into Multi-District Litigation, and more are being added every month as the claim states that the manufacturer was aware of the potential risks of infections that may be caused due to the warming blanket.

The lawsuits also include accusations such as being defective and dangerous, being negligently manufactured, failing to test the device properly, and concealing serious evidence. This epidemic can be avoided as more patients begin to avoid using the Bair Hugger Warming blanks before, during, and after surgeries.

The Bair Hugger is a warming blanket that is used during surgeries to help keep the patient's warm before, during and after surgery. The Bair Hugger intends to help prevent hypothermia and stabilizes the patient's body temperature. The warmer body temperature results in less bleeding and quicker recovery times.

The blankets work by distributing warm air over the patient's body during surgery. By keeping a patient's body as a normal temperature throughout surgery, it minimizes the risk of infection, complications, and mortality.

Several recent studies have shown, however, that the forced air heating systems used by the blankets can redirect the flow of air in an otherwise sterile environment. The Bair Hugger has a separate that connects a hose to a blanket to pump air into the unit. The Bair Hugger can cause dangerous infectious bacteria and other contaminants to become lodged onto implants and into the Surgical site.

Those undergoing knee, hip, and other joint replacement surgeries are most at risk to contract airborne contaminants while warming up a surgical patient, which over a thousand patients have done and have now filed a lawsuit. Other factors that may increase the risk of infections are diabetes, immune deficiencies, immunosuppressive treatments, obesity, and poor circulation.

The inventor of the blanket himself has launched a public campaign to warn patients of the dangers posed by the Bair Hugger. The Bair Hugger warming blankets are retailed anywhere from $6 and $24 per blanket.

These infections can be debilitating and can require invasive treatment, such as additional Surgeries, removal or replacement of the implant, or even amputation. One of the victims who filed suit underwent knee replacement surgery and required a leg amputation after becoming infected with MRSA because of the device collecting bacteria.

The Bair Hugger is able to increase the risk for MRSA, sepsis, and other serious infections.  Another victim who received a hip implant was forced to undergo 15 additional Surgeries due to an infection he received from the Bair Hugger.

The Bair Hugger's popularity is not helping the epidemic. The Bair Hugger has been used in more than 200 million surgeries since 1987 and continues to be used by more than 80% of hospitals in the United States.

The Bair Hugger is also used in every four out of five U.S. hospitals today for surgical purposes. The wide use of the Bair Hugger in the US places more and more patients at risk of contracting an infection each day as any sort of cold could negatively affect the surgical outcomes.

If you or someone you know contracted an infection after a surgery where a Bair Hugger was used, the attorneys at Alvin F. de Levie & Associates can help. Contact our firm at (844)-777-2529 (Philadelphia Area) for a consultation. One of our team members will be in immediate contact with you for a consultation.

We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, State College, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing and able to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.