A surgical device once used in about 60 percent of heart surgeries continues to cause serious health issues with some patients years after the initial surgery. RPWB represents people who developed bacterial infections following heart surgery in which the Storin 3T device was used to heat and cool the patient during surgery.

The Sorin 3T was widely used in heart surgeries until 2015 when the FDA issued a safety alert linking the device to outbreaks of the bacterial infection,  M. chimaera, a slow-moving infection that typically takes between 1.5 and 3.5 years for symptoms to be noticed. In some cases, hospitals have notified previous heart patients of the infection risk. While some hospitals were quick to remove the device, others continued using Sorin 3T devices for years after the safety alert.

The factory that makes the Storin 3T was contaminated with M. chimaera bacteria, causing an increased risk of patients developing bacterial infections. Subsequent testing by the FDA strongly suggested that infected Storin 3T devices shared a common source of M. chimaera contamination, an indication that the bacteria is likely to have originated in the German factory. There are also cases in which the infections were caused by improper cleaning or operation of the device in hospitals.

Symptoms of the infection include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Pain
• Redness, heat or pus at the surgical site
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

The infection can lead to serious injury and even death. If you or a loved one developed a M. chimaera infection following a heart surgery that took place after June 2006, we strongly urge that you contact an attorney to learn about your legal options. Please call us or send an email if we can be of assistance.

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