Patients undergoing surgical procedures often need assistance in maintaining their core body temperature while under anesthesia. However, the defective medical device lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel say new studies show one popular medical device used to keep patients warm may be putting their safety at risk.
The Bair Hugger™ Inflatable blanket fills with warm air to keep a patient’s body temperature from dropping to a dangerous level. In fact, it’s so popular, as many as 80 percent of hospitals in the U.S. utilize the device.
While the device may be effective in keeping patients warm, research shows it can increase a patient’s chances of developing an infection. A study published in the The Bone and Joint Journal found that patients who underwent a procedure utilizing the Bair Hugger™ may face up to a 380 percent increase in the chance of serious infection.
These injuries have resulted in some victims filing Bair Hugger™ hospital infection lawsuits. The victims claim they were not warned about the risks posed by the blanket.
According to Reuters, attorneys for the victims in some of these cases have filed a motion to move certain claims to the U.S. District Court for Minnesota.
At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, we are aware of the serious damages defective medical devices can cause, and our staff is hopeful that the decision reached in the Bair Hugger™ hospital infection lawsuits will help bring closure to victims and their families.