{"id":25485,"date":"2019-08-28T10:31:07","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T17:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/?page_id=25485"},"modified":"2026-06-14T12:17:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T12:17:57","slug":"bair-hugger-blankets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/downtownlalaw.com\/es\/practice-areas\/defective-product\/bair-hugger-blankets\/","title":{"rendered":"Mantas Bair Hugger: Responsabilidad del producto o negligencia m\u00e9dica"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bair Hugger Blankets: Product Liability or Medical Malpractice<\/h1>\n
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3M, the company that manufactures Bair Hugger Blankets<\/b>, issued a recall for the 3M Bair Hugger (M) Normothermia System Full Access Underbody Warming Blanket<\/b> (REF 63500 and 67700). The recall includes the following lot numbers: R10359, R10360, R10361, R10362, R10363, R10364, R10365, R10366<\/b>. According to the recall<\/a>, a change to the design of models 63500 and 63700 can result in the blankets being “more susceptible to unintended occlusion of airflow resulting in limited or partial inflation during use<\/b>.” The recall has affected a total of 33108 cases of the products (each case contains 5 units). There has been at least one reported incident in which a Bair Hugger blanket failed to inflate<\/b>, resulting in the patient suffering hypothermia and an intensive care unit stay<\/b>. Although company issued a recall, they have not addressed another issue with their products – an issue that has resulted in harm and many lawsuits<\/a>. In fact, the company has aggressively denied allegations. Specifically, there have been many claims that the Bair Hugger Blankets lead to a higher risk<\/a> of infection. Without a doubt, it is possible that innocent patients suffered preventable harm as a result of the Bair Hugger blankets manufactured by 3M<\/b>. If you or a member of your family suffered any type of harm related to the Bair Hugger blankets, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You and your family might have grounds to pursue a claim. If you would like to learn more about the possibility of pursuing a claim, do not hesitate to contact<\/a> Downtown L.A. Law Group<\/b> as soon as possible. Our lawyers are ready to evaluate your claim and provide<\/a> you with all the information that you need to take legal action and fight for your rights to be compensated. If you would like to discuss your claim with our experts, do not hesitate to contact us immediately.<\/p>\n

What are Bair Hugger Blankets?<\/h2>\n

Since 1987, Bair Hugger systems<\/b> have been used on more than 200 million patients. Approximately 80% of hospitals that offer forced-air warming therapy have these units installed – more than 50,000 Bair Hugger units among hospitals in the U.S. Bair Hugger blankets are forced-air warming systems designed to keep patients warm – specifically, before, during, and after surgical procedures. The system filters air into the operating room and forces warm air into a blanket (used to cover patients). These devices are designed to prevent patients from suffering hypothermia during the stages of surgery (orthopedic surgery).These devices ensure that patients keep and maintain a normal body temperature throughout the procedure and until the patient recovers (and is able to regulate body temperature regularly).<\/p>\n

Bair Hugger Concerns<\/h2>\n

Throughout the 30 years that Bair Hugger blankets had been on the market<\/b>, the FDA received a number of complaints relevant to the product. Specifically, there were complaints of the equipment malfunctioning (resulting in cold air circulating underneath the blanket); there were also complaints of burns resulting to prolonged heat<\/a> during the surgical process. In 2017, complaints were reviewed. However, the FDA concluded that the Bair Hugger blankets were safe to continue using. The following year, in 2018, Bair Huggers were recalled due to the issue with inflation (as explained<\/a> above). Neither of these issues addressed the alleged risk of infection associated with the Bair Hugger blankets. The man who invented Bair Huggers (and later sold his company and his product) claims that there is a dangerous risk of infection associated with Bair Hugger blankets. As of April 2019, there are more than 5,000 active federal lawsuits claiming that the Bair Hugger blankets<\/a> contributed to serious infections<\/b> resulting in the need for additional surgical procedures and even amputations. Specifically, in joint replacement surgery, the Bair Hugger equipment can increase the risk of bacteria landing on implants. Even minimal exposure to bacteria can result in a serious infection resulting in septic arthritis (which causes pain and swelling). These infections are so dangerous that they could result in the destruction of the joint (if not treated with antibiotics immediately). In most cases, the implant needs to removed and the infection must be addressed via surgery; as mentioned above, severe cases of infections can result<\/a> in amputations. However, 3M claims that there is no increased risk of infection with the use of their Bair Hugger warming systems. 3M has responded with the results of more than 170 research studies and 60 clinical studies demonstrating the benefits, efficiency, and safety of the warming systems. Although 3M was quick to take action when their warming systems failed to inflate properly, they have been denying the increased risk of infection for many years.<\/p>\n

Bair Hugger Blankets: Product Liability or Medical Malpractice?<\/h2>\n

If you or a member of your family suffered harm as a result of a Bair Hugger blanket, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. Is this product liability or medical malpractice? This depends on the specific circumstances surrounding the harm that you suffered. Consider the following points:<\/p>\n