According to recent federal court developments, the 3T Heater Cooler System heart infection lawsuits have been ordered to settlement. A special master has been named to coordinate and facilitate settlement negotiations to resolve the nationwide litigation.
There are over 85 active personal injury and product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers of the Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler in the federal court system. According to the allegations, the surgical devices were contaminated with dangerous bacteria, causing patients to develop life-threatening infections that may not be diagnosed for several months after the open heart procedures.
3T Heater-Coolers Heart Surgery Infection MDL
The 3T Heater-Coolers Heart Surgery Infection lawsuits have been centralized as part of a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) before U.S. District Judge Jones in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
What is the problem with the 3T Heater-Coolers?
The 3T Heater-Coolers are commonly used heart surgery devices implemented during open heart surgery to maintain a steady patient body temperature in critical surgery that may last several hours.
Many patients developed nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections after the use of contaminated 3T Heater-Coolers during open heart surgery.
The FDA first warned about the heater-cooler infection risk following coronary bypass or other heart procedures in late 2015, noting that a large number of adverse event reports had been received in connection with the device.
In the most recent warning notice, the FDA issued a safety communication about the 3T Heater-Coolers, warning that water tanks in the devices can become contaminated with bacteria and the bacteria can be released into the operating room.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued a Health Alert Network advisory over the potential risk of M. Chimaera infections following heart surgery, indicating that about 60% of the 250,000 heart bypass procedures performed each year in the United States involve the use of affected 3T Heater-Cooler systems.
If you or someone you know developed an NTM infection following open-heart surgery after a 3T Heater-Cooler device was used during the procedure, please call us for further information at 888-210-9693. Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm is investigating Mycobacterium (M.) chimaera and other non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) infections after heart or heart valve surgery.
Shezad Malik is an Internal Medicine and Cardiology specialist, a Texas Medical Doctor (retired) and Defective Medical Device and Dangerous Drug Attorney. Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm has offices based in Fort Worth and Dallas and represents people who have suffered catastrophic and serious personal injuries including wrongful death, caused by the negligence or recklessness of others.
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