Heater-Cooler System Lawsuit Update

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Jessica Paluch-Hoerman

Attorney Jessica Paluch-Hoerman, founder of TruLaw, has over 28 years of experience as a personal injury and mass tort attorney, and previously worked as an international tax attorney at Deloitte. Jessie collaborates with attorneys nationwide — enabling her to share reliable, up-to-date legal information with our readers.

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy and clarity by the team of writers and legal experts at TruLaw and is as accurate as possible. This content should not be taken as legal advice from an attorney. If you would like to learn more about our owner and experienced injury lawyer, Jessie Paluch, you can do so here.

TruLaw does everything possible to make sure the information in this article is up to date and accurate. If you need specific legal advice about your case, contact us by using the chat on the bottom of this page. This article should not be taken as advice from an attorney.

Heater-Cooler System Lawsuit Overview

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Stockert 3T heater-cooler system lawsuits are being filed on behalf of individuals diagnosed with a serious infection, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), as a result of the use of a heater-cooler system during open-chest surgery.

According to an analysis of heater-cooler units in the U.S. and Canada, 1 in 3 heater-cooler devices tested positive for the bacteria M. chimaera.

Table of Contents

Heater-Cooler Lawsuit Updates Timeline

February 1st, 2025: No Major Updates in 3T Heater Cooler Lawsuit

At this time, no major updates or news around the 3T Heater Cooler lawsuit have been reported.

Officials have not indicated any new or still pending cases in the MDL.

January 1st, 2025: No New Announcements in Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits

While cases may still be pending in the MDL, no announcements or other news have been published around the Heater-Cooler System lawsuits at this time.

December 1st, 2024: No Public Updates on Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits

News and updates regarding the Heater-Cooler System lawsuits, including the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler System, have not been announced or made public within the last month.

November 1st, 2024: Six Lawsuits Remain Active in Heater-Cooler System Litigation

At this time, there have been limited developments in the Heater-Cooler System lawsuits, including the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler System.

Despite major settlements in recent years, the six lawsuits that were still pending as of August 2024 remain active.

October 1st, 2024: No Major Developments in ST Heater-Cooler System Lawsuit

At this time, there have been no major developments or news published around the ST Heater-Cooler System lawsuit.

September 1st, 2024: 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuit Continues Due to Infection Concerns

As of now, there are no additional updates available regarding the 3T Heater-Cooler System lawsuit.

The case continues to draw attention due to concerns about the device’s association with infections in patients following cardiac surgery.

August 1st, 2024: Six Lawsuits Remain Pending in MDL

As of August 2024, six lawsuits remain pending in the multi-district litigation (MDL).

January 4th, 2024: No Notable Developments in LivaNova Stockert 3T Bacteria Infection Lawsuits

Heater-cooler devices, notably LivaNova’s Stockert 3T, implicated in spreading bacteria leading to severe lung infections during surgeries, have seen no notable developments in related lawsuits in the past month.

Patients exposed to the bacteria may face severe, potentially fatal complications, leading to ongoing lawsuits against manufacturers.

If you or a loved one is a victim seeking assistance, resources, or information regarding the lawsuit, consider reaching out to TruLaw for support.

November 1st, 2023: No Developments in 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits

There have been no significant developments or updates in the lawsuits related to the 3T heater-cooler system over the course of the last month.

Contact TruLaw today if you or a loved one are a victim seeking assistance, resources or information concerning the lawsuit.

October 2nd, 2023: No Recent Updates in 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits

As of the latest information available, there are no recent updates or developments in the lawsuits related to the 3T heater-cooler system.

If you are a victim seeking assistance or information related to the 3T heater-cooler system lawsuits, you can reach out to TruLaw for valuable information and resources to help you understand your rights and options in these legal matters.

September 6th, 2023: No Advancements in 3T Heater-Cooler System MDL, Further Developments Expected

Currently, there haven’t been any significant advancements in the MDL related to the 3T Heater-Cooler System, but there is an expectation that the ongoing lawsuits will soon see further developments.

Please check back for any additional updates.

If you have any inquiries about the MDL, feel free to contact TruLaw online.

August 1st, 2023: 75% of Lawsuits Resolved, Remaining Cases Pursue Settlements

Approximately 75% of the lawsuits have reached resolutions, but a considerable number of cases are still pursuing settlements or could potentially proceed to trial.

As of now, there have been no notable developments in the case, but there is anticipation that the pending lawsuits will soon progress further.

Check back for any additional updates.

If you have questions about the MDL surrounding the 3T Heater-Cooler System, don’t hesitate to reach out to us online.

July 1st, 2023: Litigation Ongoing with Many Lawsuits Awaiting Settlements

While a significant number of cases have been resolved, it is important to note that the litigation is still ongoing.

Many lawsuits are currently awaiting settlements, while a few may proceed to trial.

Our team will continue to provide updates as the cases evolve.

Please stay tuned for further developments and feel free to contact TruLaw if you have any questions or concerns.

June 1st, 2023: Several Settlements Await Final Resolutions

Although a significant number of settlements have been reached, there are several awaiting final resolutions.

Additional updates and resolutions will continue to unfold as the remaining cases progress through the legal system.

May 1st, 2023: Majority of 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits Resolved

Cases for the 3T Heater-Cooler System lawsuit are still ongoing.

A majority of the lawsuits have been resolved.

Many others are still waiting for settlements and some could still go to trial.

There is still an expectation for the lawsuits that are still pending to make progress soon.

April 1st, 2023: 75% of 3T Heater-Cooler System Lawsuits Resolved

Cases for the 3T Heater-Cooler System lawsuit are still ongoing.

While 75% of the lawsuits have been resolved, there are still many cases that are seeking settlements or potentially going to trial.

There have been no significant updates for the case, but there is expectation of the pending lawsuits to move forward soon.

March 1st, 2023: LivaNova Announces $225 Million Settlement for 75% of Outstanding Lawsuits

Liva Nova PLC announced a settlement that is expected to resolve roughly 75% of its outstanding lawsuits.

The settlement’s total payment equaled up to $225 million.

It covered all of the MDL’s pending cases, federal class action lawsuits, and some of the state lawsuits.

There were two payments.

The first payment was made in July 2019 for $125 million.

The second payment was made in January 2020.

Since then, there have been no significant updates of the 3T Heater-Cooler System lawsuit, but there are still some outstanding cases.

December 1st, 2022: 85 Product Liability Lawsuits Active Against Heater-Cooler System Manufacturer

85 product liability lawsuits are currently active against the manufacturer of the heater-cooler system.

These lawsuits have been centralized in a federal MDL before Judge Jones in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Lawsuits

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Several heater-cooler lawsuits have been filed against the device manufacturer Liva Nova PLC (formerly Sorin Group Deutschland GmbH) on behalf of individuals diagnosed with M. Chimaera after having open-heart surgery.

The lawsuit alleges that the device was designed and manufactured with defects that were recognized as a potential source of infection as early as 2002.

Furthermore, the 3T Stockert heater-cooler system lawsuit alleges that even though Liva Nova PLC knew or should have known of these defects, they failed to warn patients and medical providers of the risk.

heater cooler lawsuit surgery

In fact, there have been 15 versions of the “instructions for use” (IFU) sent to medical professionals with the Stockert 3T heater-cooler device and none of them have a validated cleaning and disinfection procedure.

Of the 16 heater-cooler lawsuits that have been filed in six different districts, 10 of the cases are being informally coordinated in a South Carolina federal court, and six actions are pending outside of South Carolina.

The heater-cooler lawsuits make common allegations that the plaintiffs were exposed to M. chimaera or M. abscessus, types of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) after undergoing surgery utilizing the 3T Heater-Cooler system.

While some patients do not become ill from NTM exposure, those with a weak immune system may contract a slowly progressive and destructive disease that may become chronic and require ongoing medical treatment.

Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler Linked to Infection

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The FDA and CDC are warning patients and providers about the potential risk of infection from the Stockert 3T Heater-Cooler System used during open-chest surgeries involving the heart, lung or liver.

More than 250,000 heart bypass procedures using heater-cooler devices are performed in the United States every year.

blood heater cooler machine in surgery

Heater-cooler devices are an essential part of these surgeries because they help keep a patient’s circulating blood and organs at a specific temperature during the procedure, yet most patients are not aware of the device’s usage.

For this reason, the CDC and the FDA are now warning patients who had cardiothoracic surgeries which can include the heart, liver or lung to seek medical care if they are experiencing symptoms associated with infections.

These infections could indicate they were exposed to M. Chimaera, a dangerous form of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM).

How Do Heater-Cooler Systems Work?

Heater cooler devices are used to control the temperature of patient’s blood and organs during approximately 60 percent of open heart surgeries performed in the U.S.

The system circulates water through tubes into a heat exchanger to keep the patient warm, but tainted water from inside the unit can be circulated into operating room air, where it can contaminate the exposed surgical site of the patient.

According to John Rihs, VP of Laboratory Services at Special Pathogens laboratory:

“Some of the devices remained positive for M. chimaera for months indicating that disinfection can be difficult.”

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Rihs delivered the alarming news of the link between M. chimaera and heater-cooler units at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Rih’s analysis was based on a study of 89 heater cooler units in 23 hospitals throughout Canada and the U.S. between July 2015 and December 2016.

This same analysis found 1 in 3 heater cooler devices testing positive for the bacteria M. chimaera.

Stockert 3T Systems are heater-cooler devices that have water tanks providing temperature-controlled water to external heat exchangers or warming/cooling blankets through closed circuits.

Although the water in the 3T System circuits does not come into direct contact with the patient, there is the potential for contaminated water to enter other parts of the device and aerosolize, transmitting bacteria through the air and through the device’s exhaust vent into the environment and to the patient.

FDA and CDC Suggest Hospitals Should Warn Patients of the Risk of Infection to Mitigate Risk

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According to the CDC, approximately 60 percent of heart bypass procedures performed in the U.S. utilize the Stockert 3T device that has been associated with these infections.

On June 1, 2016, the FDA issued a Safety Communication noting the link between M. chimaera infections associated with the use of the 3T heater-cooler system.

According to the FDA, devices produced prior to August 2014 were found to have M. chimaera contamination on the production line and water supply at the 3T manufacturing facility.

no warning to patients

To date, the FDA is not aware of infections that occurred with 3T devices manufactured after September 2014.

In October 2016, the CDC estimated that in hospitals where at least one infection has been identified, the risk of a patient getting an infection from the bacteria was between about 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000.

The CDC and the FDA are continuing to evaluate this risk and we may see the number of individuals at risk grow as it takes a significant amount of time to develop symptoms of this deadly bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the substantial horizontal airflow generated by heater-cooler units might disrupt vertical ultraclean airflow, which could be a potential mechanism for transmission of pathogens from a contaminated heater-cooler unit to a surgical site.

The CDC released a Health Alert Network Advisory to help hospitals and healthcare providers identify and inform patients who might have been put at risk.

Many hospitals have been sending out Patient Advisory Letters to warn of the potential risk of infection.

The FDA is collaborating with “professional societies, public health partners, heater-cooler manufacturers, and infectious disease specialists to evaluate additional strategies for mitigating infections associated with heater-cooler devices.”

The agency is urging hospitals and medical clinics to use extreme caution when cleaning and disinfecting heater-cooler units, and also to ensure that they are using the most up-to-date version of the manufacturer’s instructions when doing so.

What is M. Chimaera?

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M. chimaera is a deadly bacteria that is often found in soil and water but is rarely associated with infections.

However, patients exposed to the bacteria through open-heart surgery can develop general and nonspecific symptoms that often take months to emerge leading to misdiagnosis in many cases.

M. chimaera is fatal to nearly half the patients diagnosed with the bacteria.

M. Chimaera is a type of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) classified as a slow grower.

deadly bacteria

In addition, detecting M. Chimaera is difficult because patients may not develop symptoms or signs of infection for months to years after initial exposure.

The first symptoms of the infection is an unexplained fever that lasts more than one week.

Other symptoms of M. chimaera include:

  • Low energy
  • Night sweats
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Redness, heat, or pus around the surgical incision
  • Difficulty breathing
  • A persistent cough
  • A cough with blood
  • Nausea and vomiting

M. chimaera is fatal to approximately half the people who contract the infection.

According to the FDA, of the 32 cases occurring between 2010 and 2015, nearly half the patients died.

All of these patients had surgeries utilizing the Stӧckert 3T heater-cooler system.

What Should You Do If You Had Cardiothoracic Surgery?

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If you had Cardiothoracic surgery, here’s a few tips to stay safe:

  • Be aware!  Most cardiopulmonary bypass procedures involve the use of a heater-cooler device.
  • Talk to your doctor about your risk of exposure to M. chimaera,
  • Recognize the signs and symptoms of NTM infection
  • Contact your health care provider at the first sign of these symptoms
  • Report any problems to the FDA

12 Children Infected During Surgery

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The Children’s Hospital of New Orleans announced that at least twelve children who underwent cardiac surgery at Children’s Hospital between late May and July 2017 developed mycobacterium abscesses.

child after surgery

According to the hospital statement, the children were infected by a piece of equipment used to regulate the temperature of patients while on bypass – a heater-cooler unit.

24 Cardiac Surgery Patients Diagnosed with Mycobacterium Infection In New Orleans Hospital

October 2016 – This was the largest amount of cases reported, and nearly half of the patients died from the infection.

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The infection is very serious and is also very slow to develop — meaning the link to cardiac surgery may not immediately be recognized.

Heater-Cooler Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions

Published By:
Picture of Jessica Paluch-Hoerman
Jessica Paluch-Hoerman

Managing Attorney & Owner

With over 25 years of legal experience, Jessica Paluch-Hoerman is an Illinois lawyer, a CPA, and a mother of three.  She spent the first decade of her career working as an international tax attorney at Deloitte.

In 2009, Jessie co-founded her own law firm with her husband – which has scaled to over 30 employees since its conception.

In 2016, Jessie founded TruLaw, which allows her to collaborate with attorneys and legal experts across the United States on a daily basis. This hypervaluable network of experts is what enables her to share the most reliable, accurate, and up-to-date legal information with our readers!

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Heater-Cooler System Lawsuit Update
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Claims allege that companies such as 3M, DuPont, and Tyco Fire Products failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of AFFF exposure — including increased risks of various cancers and diseases.

Depo Provera Lawsuit

Depo Provera Lawsuit claims are being filed by individuals who allege they developed meningioma (a type of brain tumor) after receiving Depo-Provera birth control injections.

A 2024 study found that women using Depo-Provera for at least 1 year are five times more likely to develop meningioma brain tumors compared to those not using the drug.

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Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit claims are being filed against Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

Claims allege that Indivior failed to adequately warn users about the potential dangers of severe tooth decay and dental injuries associated with Suboxone’s sublingual film version.

Social Media Lawsuits

Social Media Harm Lawsuits are being filed against social media companies for allegedly causing mental health issues in children and teens.

Claims allege that companies like Meta, Google, ByteDance, and Snap designed addictive platforms that led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues without adequately warning users or parents.

Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits

Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits are being filed against manufacturers of transvaginal mesh products used to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Claims allege that companies like Ethicon, C.R. Bard, and Boston Scientific failed to adequately warn about potential dangers — including erosion, pain, and infection.

Bair Hugger Lawsuit

Bair Hugger Warming Blanket Lawsuits involve claims against 3M — alleging their surgical warming blankets caused severe infections and complications (particularly in hip and knee replacement surgeries).

Plaintiffs claim 3M failed to warn about potential risks — despite knowing about increased risk of deep joint infections since 2011.

Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit

Baby Formula NEC Lawsuit claims are being filed against manufacturers of cow’s milk-based baby formula products.

Claims allege that companies like Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson & Company (Enfamil) failed to warn about the increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants.

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