The Bair Hugger® is a forced-air warming device used to warm patients during total hip or knee replacements. The device forces warm air into a blanket used to cover patients during surgery and regulate the patient’s temperature.
Injuries and Allegations
Hundreds of cases have been filed in the District of Minnesota, where 3M manufactured the device. The complaints allege that the warning system allows bacteria to flow into the surgical site causing deep joint infections.
Deep joint infections can include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), sepsis and other serious infections. Treatment for infections include additional surgeries, antibiotic therapy and in serious cases, amputation.
Bair Hugger Warming Devices Confirmed to be Source of Airborne Microbial Contamination
Dr. McGrory recently conducted a pilot study at Maine Medical Center evaluating perioperative body temperature in patients undergoing total joint surgery. All patients in the study received pre-operative warming at 41-degrees Celcius with 3M’s Bair Hugger forced air warmer and intraoperatively they received warm cotton blankets out of common blanket warmers and in-line IV fluid warming with 3M’s Ranger fluid warming device. This podcast provides valuable information regarding the controversy surrounding Bair Hugger and unpacks related Bair Hugger legal battles, medical literature, and corporate competition.
PODCAST: Preventing Hypothermia in Arthroplasty Surgery with Brian McGrory, MD
Bair Hugger lawsuit reinstated
Things are looking up for plaintiffs in the massive multi-district litigation against 3M over its patient warming device, the Bair Hugger, since the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month cried foul and reversed a summary judgment for the defendant in Amador v. 3M.
Minnesota Lawyer Article
Stay up-to-date on Bair Hugger case status
Read court documents and stay up to speed on current litigation.
PDF links:
PODCAST: Anesthesia Guidebook – Preventing Hypothermia in Arthroplasty Surgery with Brian McGrory, MD
Podcast, Anethesia Guidebook talk about preventing hypothermia during total joint replacement surgery. Dr McGrory recently conducted a pilot study at Maine Medical Center evaluating perioperative body temperature in patients undergoing total joint surgery. All patients in the study received pre-operative warming at 41-degrees Celcius with 3M’s Bair Hugger forced air warmer and intraoperatively they received warm cotton blankets out of common blanket warmers and in-line IV fluid warming with 3M’s Ranger fluid warming device. The patients in the study group were also draped in a reflective space blanket as the independent variable. Dr McGrory will discuss the results of this pilot study in the podcast, some of which were published as a letter to the editor in The Journal of Arthroplasty.
During the podcast, Anesthesia Guidebook discusses the controversy with forced hot air warmers that’s been widely discussed in peer reviewed, as well as popular news, publications. They unpack & clarify the backstory on Bair Huggers so you know where that stands.
PODCAST: Preventing Hypothermia in Arthroplasty Surgery with Brian McGrory, MD
8th Circ. Restores 3M Warming Devices MDL
The Eighth Circuit on Monday revived thousands of suits in multidistrict litigation against 3M over injuries caused by a surgical warming device, finding that the lower court erred by excluding expert witnesses’ opinions on the cause of the patients’ infections.
PDF link:
Nearly 80% of hospitals use the Bair Hugger® system. In order to find out if a Bair Hugger® was used in your surgery, call Meshbesher & Spence today for a free consultation.
When you hire an attorney from Meshbesher & Spence, you will not pay any attorney fees until you receive compensation. In the event that you do not recover compensation for your injuries, you owe us nothing. This kind of pay structure is called a “contingent fee agreement
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Meshbesher & Spence to see how we can help protect your legal rights. The product liability attorneys of Meshbesher & Spence have been representing families in crisis for over 50 years. Our highly skilled litigators specialize in personal injury, class action, and civil litigation. The experienced lawyers at Meshbesher & Spence will help you seek compensation for your injuries.
