Kansas City M. Chimaera Infection Attorneys

Representing Open-Heart Surgery Patients Who Fell Ill

NEW DEVELOPMENT! – Article published in medical journal reveals investigation of M. chimaera infections at Kansas Hospital. Click here for article: Mycobacterium chimaera infections among cardiothoracic surgery patients associated with heater-cooler devices—Kansas and California, 2019

Have you undergone an open-heart surgery or a similar cardiac procedure like a valve replacement, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or heart transplant? Have you been diagnosed with mycobacterium chimaera (M. chimaera) infection? Or, have you had lingering medical issues since your open-heart surgery including but not limited to fatigue, weight-loss, wound infections, or blurred vision? There could be a direct correlation between your surgical procedure and the onset of this potentially serious bacterial infection.

Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd. is currently representing patients throughout Missouri and Kansas who were unknowingly exposed to M. chimaera bacteria during open-heart surgery. The hospital and medical team could be held liable for your damages if you became infected with M. chimaera during an open-heart surgery.

If you would like to discuss your concerns about M. chimaera infection, please contact us at (816) 542-5999.

How Does Heart Surgery Cause M. Chimaera Infection?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that exposure to M. chimaera can occur during open-heart surgeries. Bypass machines used during open-heart surgery regulate the patient’s body temperature. If the machine is contaminated with M. chimaera, aerosolized particles can drift into the air and settle into a patient’s open wound.

M. Chimaera Infection Symptoms

A bacterial infection caused by M. chimaera can be mild, or it can be life-threatening.

Common symptoms of an M. chimaera infection include:

• Fevers
• Chronic cough and respiratory problems
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• Muscle and joint pain
• Fatigue
• Wound infections
• Non-healing surgical wounds

The symptoms of an M. chimaera infection can begin subtly, so much so that you might not realize something is wrong. It is often first mistaken as general malaise after going through a significant surgical procedure like open-heart surgery. Additional testing is likely needed to identify the infection and take action before it worsens. Please contact a trusted medical professional if you are experiencing unexplained symptoms after an open-heart surgery because they could be the first signs of an infection.

Damages Available to M. Chimaera Infection Claimants

Your damages in your M. chimaera infection lawsuit can reflect:

• Medical costs needed to treat the infection
• Prolonged pain and suffering
• Lost wages or income

It is our job as your chosen Kansas City M. chimaera infection attorneys to maximize your damages. We know how to carefully calculate related damages, so we don’t risk leaving any amount of compensation unclaimed.

If you have been diagnosed with an M. chimaera infection after undergoing open-heart surgery, or you have any of the symptoms described above following open-heart surgery, then you should not hesitate to explore your legal options with our team. You could be owed significant compensation that helps you regain your financial footing while also acknowledging all of the pain and hardships you have endured. Let our legal team in Kansas City help you fight for compensation.

Contact us online or dial (816) 542-5999 without delay.

Severe bacterial infections have been reported among numerous open-heart surgery patients whose surgeries included the use of a LivaNova/Stockert/Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler Device. The link between the use of this heater-cooler and a potentially fatal NTM infection is apparent.

At Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd. in Kansas City, we have already helped several clients who have suffered a severe infection or the loss of a loved one due to an NTM infection related to open-heart surgery performed at the University of Kansas Hospital when a LivaNova heater-cooler system was used.

Our attorneys are standing by to help you understand your rights and file a claim against all appropriate parties.

Issues with the LivaNova 3T Heater-Cooler System

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued several press releases regarding the proper use of the LivaNova 3T Heater-Cooler System, which might also bear the logos of Sorin and Stockert. This system is used during open-heart surgeries.

According to the FDA findings, the 3T Heater-Cooler System can trap bacteria inside its water reservoirs. Due to the design in the device, the contaminated water can aerosolize and then contaminate the surrounding air with harmful bacteria, like M. chimaera or NTM.

Damages in NTM Infection-Open Heart Surgery Lawsuits

You could be owed significant compensation if you or a loved one have suffered from the serious complications of an infection caused by a 3T Heater-Cooler System aerosolizing contaminated water while open-heart surgery was being conducted.

In your NTM infection lawsuit, you might be able to demand compensation based on:

• Negligence: The hospital and its staff where your open-heart surgery was performed can be liable for your infection and resulting injuries if it can be shown that it failed to appropriately maintain, clean, or position the heater-cooler unit for your surgery.
• Product liability: LivaNova, the manufacturer of the 3T Heater-Cooler System, can be held liable for the negligent design of a medical device. Strict liability rules can also hold LivaNova liable for your damages.

NTM Infection Symptoms & Complications

Symptoms of an NTM infection can take months or years to develop and are often general or nonspecific, such as fatigue, unexplained fever, night sweats, weight loss, or wound infection. As a result, the diagnosis of NTM infection can be missed or delayed. Healthcare providers may not immediately consider an NTM infection as the source of these symptoms. It is important that you communicate with your healthcare provider about your potential exposure to NTM bacteria. It is also important that if your provider is concerned about an NTM infection that they order the appropriate testing. We would encourage your healthcare provider to speak with an infectious diseases specialist to ensure the correct testing is performed.

Lawsuits Against University of Kansas Hospital Authority

Recently, the attorneys of Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd., filed lawsuits against the University of Kansas Hospital Authority (KUHA) and LivaNova for patients and the families of patients who suffered a serious NTM infection after open-heart surgery was conducted at the University of Kansas Hospitaland with the use of a LivaNova 3T Heater-Cooler System.

Please let us know if you underwent open-heart surgery at the University of Kansas Hospital and suffered a serious infection afterward, or are concerned that you might have been infected with a mycobacterium infection, also known as M. chimaera.

Call (816) 542-5999 or contact us online right away if you need our help. There is no charge for your initial consultation.

Continued Reading

• CDC Health Alert: The CDC has warned hospitals and patients about the potential risk of NTM infections from certain heater-cooler devices used during open-heart (open-chest) surgeries.
• Mycobacteria chimaera infection notes from the CDC: Notes from the Field: Mycobacteria chimaera Infections Associated with Heater-Cooler Unit Use During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery — Los Angeles County, 2012–2016
• FDA LivaNova heater-cooler warning: Updated Information To Reduce Potential Cardiac Surgery Infection Risks Associated With the LivaNova 3T Heater-Cooler Systems: FDA Safety Communication

Learn more about M. chimaera:

• What is Mycobacterium Chimaera?