Heater-Cooler System
The Heater-Cooler System is another medical device used during certain surgical procedures, particularly in cardiac surgeries. It is used to regulate and control the patient's body temperature by circulating temperature-controlled water through special blankets or pads. The system has a heating and cooling component that helps maintain the patient's body temperature within a specific range during surgery.
Side Effects of Heater-cooler System
Some common side effects of heater-cooler system are:
- Bacteremia
- Fever
- Renal insufficiency
- Joint pain
- Endocarditis
- Surgical site infection
- Weight loss
- Hepatitis
- Osteomyelitis
- Pancytopenia
- Myalgia
- Splenomegaly
- Night sweats
Heater-cooler System Surgeries
Surgeries that may include the use of a heater-cooler system include:
- Aortic anomaly surgery
- Heart transplant
- Lung transplant
- Lung resection
- Heart valve replacement
- Pulmonary artery banding
- Open-chest heart surgery
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
However, the Heater-Cooler System has been associated with a potential risk of bacterial contamination, specifically with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These bacteria can become aerosolized from the device's water reservoir and then be transmitted to the patient during surgery. While the bacteria may not cause infections in healthy individuals, patients undergoing open-chest surgeries, such as heart surgeries, may be at risk of developing serious infections.
As a result, there have been reported cases of patients who developed infections linked to the use of the Heater-Cooler System. These infections can be severe and challenging to treat. Patients who experienced infections after surgery may have filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of the Heater-Cooler System, alleging that the device was defective and responsible for their health complications.
Several medical device manufacturers have faced legal actions related to the Heater-Cooler System. These cases often involve claims of product liability, negligence, and failure to warn about potential risks associated with the device. Plaintiffs in these cases seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the infections.
In these cases, the attorneys representing plaintiffs are required to prove several key elements to establish liability and seek compensation for their clients. The specific requirements may vary depending on the jurisdiction and the legal claims made, but some common elements that attorneys may seek to prove include:
- Product defect
- Negligence
- Causation
- Failure to warn
- Damages
- Compliance with standards
At Medical Records Reform LLC we are providing services in cases related to the heater cooler machines that cover all the above areas in focus from the medical records along with significant points from expert opinions being highlighted that could aid in backing up and supporting the legal claims.