Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Lawsuit
The Stockert 3T heater-cooler system is commonly used during surgery to regulate a patient’s body temperature. The device has been linked to mycobacterium chimaera, a microorganism, that can cause an infection with a death rate of 50 percent.
Patients who have developed this infection after undergoing surgery in which this device was used, particularly in open-chest cardiac procedures, may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, medical bills, and other damages. Contact our accomplished class action lawyers today to find out if you are entitled to file a Stockert 3T heater-cooler lawsuit.
Call 201-500-6000 today. We do not get paid unless you do.
Spread of Infection
Testing has revealed that mycobacteria, which grow in water, can develop in the water tanks of the Stockert 3T. Although the water itself does not touch the patients, the mycobacteria can be released into the air in the operating room, contaminating sterile equipment, entering the patient’s body and attaching itself to any implants.
The most common mycobacteria associated with the device is a nontuberculous mycobacteria infection called Mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients undergoing cardioplegic surgery that stops the heart and blood flow have a one percent chance of developing the infection. If a patient develops Mycobacterium chimaera, it can take several months or years for symptoms to develop, at which point the patient only has a 50 percent chance of surviving.
Common symptoms of Mycobacterium chimaera include:
- Unexplained fever that lasts longer than a week
- Muscle or joint pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of energy
- Heat, pus or redness near the surgical site
- Persistent cough
- Vomiting
- Nausea
If you experience any of these symptoms after undergoing surgery, seek immediate medical attention.
You should then contact a reputable lawyer to learn more about your options for filing a Stockert 3T heater-cooler lawsuit to recover compensation for the damages you have suffered.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now.
Ongoing Investigations into the Dangers of Heater-Cooler Devices
In June 2015, both the manufacturer of the Stockert 3T and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced recalls of the device, stating that the it has the potential for organisms such as mycobacteria to colonize.
According to the FDA, it received reports of 32 cases of Mycobacterium chimaera between 2010 and 2015, prompting it to release a safety communication in October 2015 advising of the risk that mycobacteria can cause. It also included recommendations to minimize patient exposure. The CDC issued similar warnings.
Just two months later, the FDA issued a warning letter to Sorin about safety protocol violations found at the company’s production facilities in Colorado and Germany.
In June 2016, the FDA issued another safety communication about the link between the spread of Mycobacterium chimaera and the Stockert 3T. It concluded that it was possible that all Stockert 3T models produced before September 2014 could have been contaminated by the microorganism.
That safety communication was updated in October 2016 to include more information about Mycobacterium chimaera infections and how to prevent its spread.
Any patient who developed Mycobacterium chimaera after undergoing surgery in which this device was used may be entitled to file a Stockert 3T heater-cooler lawsuit because of the company’s negligence in producing a defective medical device.
Contact Lynch Law Firm, PC to learn more.
What is the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler?
The Stockert 3T heater-cooler utilizes three separate water coolers to regulate the temperature of heating and cooling blankets, oxygenators, bypass machines, and other equipment used to help regulate patients’ body temperatures during surgery.
The device was originally developed by Sorin, but is currently owned and manufactured by LivaNova. Several patients have filed Stockert 3T heater-cooler lawsuits against LivaNova claiming that the company was negligent in the creation of a medical device that can cause life-threatening infections.
Learn more about filing a Stockert 3T heater-cooler lawsuit by calling 201-500-6000.
File a Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Lawsuit Today
If you believe that a Stockert 3T heater-cooler led to your Mycobacterium chimaera infection, our experienced team can help you fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Through a lawsuit, we can hold LivaNova accountable for producing a device that causes harm to innocent patients.
Schedule a free, no obligation consultation today with our legal team. We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us nothing up-front. We do not charge any fees unless you recover compensation.
