Heater Cooler machine infections

[DachsieMom]

I saw on the news yesterday (and have since read several articles) that a heater cooler machine used in many heart surgeries in the past 4 years harbored a rare infection. Anyone else read about this? I have not yet received a letter from My hospital. Infection takes months or years to develop.

 

[Freddie]

Yes, I have. Thought it was the past 5yrs and only in Canada.

 

[Paleowoman]

I saw on the news yesterday (and have since read several articles) that a heater cooler machine used in many heart surgeries in the past 4 years harbored a rare infection. Anyone else read about this? I have not yet received a letter from My hospital. Infection takes months or years to develop.

I read about it on forum two weeks ago, dornole started a thread here: http://www.valvereplacement.org/for...n-risk-from-ohs-blood-temp-regulating-devices I've downloaded information from UK Pubic Health and from the FDA. Apparently it is mostly in the Sorin T3 heater cooler unit used in the bypass machine. They found it was producing an "aerosol" of a bacteria called Mycobacterium Chimaera which takes up to five years to incubate affecting people who had heart valve replacement or repair. The infection is nonetheless extremely rare. My hospital hasn't sent me a letter but I telephoned them and asked them the make of the heater cooler unit used during my surgery. It was a Sorin T3.

Here's the FDA alert: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm504213.htm
Public Health England laert: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ciated_with_heater_cooler_units_version_1.pdf
Here's an article which has a good resumé about this: http://www.raps.org/Regulatory-Focu...ater-Cooler-Maker-Over-Cleaning-Instructions/

 

[Odie]

I received a letter from my hospital. The letter states "there have no reports [presumably from my hospital] of patients who have developed this infection to date". Coincidentally, I am working with my doctors to understand the cause of a recent bout of arrhythmia and chest pain (among other symptoms). I've experienced three similar events since my OHS, where each event was more serious than the last. When an ESR test indicated the potential of infection, I floated the idea of an infection from the contaminated equipment. That idea didn't get much traction; though I got the impression my doctor wasn't too familiar with the case, but knowing her, I'm confident my query caused her to do some research.

I seriously doubt my situation has anything to do with contaminated heater cooler, but it is on my radar as we try to get to the bottom of whatever it is that is going on.

 

[epstns]

Odie - You could send a copy of that letter to your cardio and ask her if it could be related. That way, you know that she knows what you're asking about.

 

[Odie]

Thanks Steve. Already done.