Kansas City, Kansas — A growing number of lawsuits claim that improperly cleaned medical devices used during open-heart surgeries at a Kansas hospital caused dangerous infections and multiple deaths. Families of patients say contaminated equipment led to slow-developing Mycobacterium chimaera infections, leaving some patients dead and others battling life-altering health complications.
The lawsuits target The University of Kansas Health System and medical device manufacturer LivaNova USA Inc., alleging negligence in the use and maintenance of heater-cooler units (HCUs) used during heart surgeries.
“More than 30 lawsuits have been filed alleging that contaminated surgical devices infected patients with Mycobacterium chimaera, a rare but dangerous bacteria.”
Lawsuit claims device contamination caused infection
One of the cases involves Darrell Schroll, a Vietnam veteran and business owner from Manhattan, Kansas, whose family says he developed the infection after undergoing open-heart surgery in 2019.
Schroll later told his daughter, Kristy Schroll, that he felt like he was dying as his health rapidly deteriorated.
“He was skin and bones,” Kristy Schroll said while describing her father’s condition during the infection.
Doctors eventually discovered the infection had spread widely through his body.
According to the family, the bacteria had reached his eye, brain, heart, lungs, liver, and LVAD device, creating severe complications.
The lawsuit claims a contaminated LivaNova 3T heater-cooler unit used during the procedure exposed him to the infection.
Petition accuses hospital staff of negligence
In the legal filing, Schroll’s family alleges hospital staff failed to properly sterilize the surgical equipment before using it.
The petition claims technicians, nurses, physicians, and other hospital staff failed to properly disinfect the device before the surgery.
It also accuses the hospital of failing to:
- Inform the patient and family about exposure to M. chimaera
- Properly evaluate symptoms after surgery
- Diagnose and treat the infection in a timely manner
The lawsuit argues that earlier action might have prevented the infection from spreading throughout Schroll’s body.
Dozens of patients allegedly affected
According to reports cited in the lawsuits, 25 patients at the hospital were infected with Mycobacterium chimaera due to contaminated heater-cooler units used during surgeries.
Of those patients, at least 11 have died, while others continue to suffer long-term medical complications.
“The infections were allegedly caused by heater-cooler units that were not properly cleaned before use during open-heart procedures.”
Heater-cooler units play a critical role during cardiac surgery by regulating a patient’s blood temperature during procedures that require cardiopulmonary bypass.
However, if the water inside the machines becomes contaminated, the bacteria can spread through the air and potentially infect patients.
Widow seeks $20 million after husband’s death
Another lawsuit involves Thelma Wood of Olathe, whose husband Ron Wood underwent open-heart surgery in 2019 to replace an aortic valve.
Wood later developed a severe M. chimaera infection, which slowly worsened over time.
According to his wife, the illness caused dramatic weight loss, extreme fatigue, and repeated hospitalizations before he died in February 2021.
She is now seeking $20 million in damages.
“Nobody should hurt like this. Nobody. Just for something that could have been avoided,” Thelma Wood said while discussing her husband’s death.
Wood spent seven weeks hospitalized before succumbing to the infection.
His wife recalled the moment she realized something was seriously wrong.
“He looked up at me and said, ‘Call the paramedics.’”
Families say infections robbed them of time
For families involved in the lawsuits, the emotional toll has been devastating.
Kristy Schroll described her father as the foundation of the family, someone who always helped others and led by example.
Watching his health deteriorate due to the infection was heartbreaking.
“We feel like time was stolen,” she said while describing the impact on their family.
She said her father eventually felt defeated and stripped of dignity as the illness progressed.
Schroll hopes the lawsuits will bring greater public awareness to what families believe was preventable medical negligence.
Hospital says it acted to protect patients
The University of Kansas Health System said it is limited in what it can publicly discuss due to ongoing litigation.
In a statement, the hospital’s general counsel said the system worked to protect patients while continuing to provide lifesaving surgeries.
Hospital officials also said that once concerns about the devices became known, patients who may have been affected were contacted.
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The health system added that new versions of the devices are now in use, featuring design changes intended to reduce infection risks.
Device manufacturer defends equipment
Medical device manufacturer LivaNova also responded to the allegations.
The company said patient safety and product quality remain central to its operations and that it worked with global regulators to address potential risks associated with the device.
While declining to discuss details of ongoing lawsuits, the company said it stands behind the 3T heater-cooler system and is defending its actions in court.
“The company says it worked with regulators worldwide to reduce potential infection risks while maintaining access to critical surgical technology.”
Legal cases continue to move forward
The lawsuits filed in Wyandotte County, Kansas, continue to move through the legal system as families seek accountability for what they describe as preventable infections tied to surgical equipment.
For the families involved, the legal battle represents not only an effort to obtain compensation but also a push to prevent similar incidents in the future.
What do you think about the allegations involving contaminated surgical devices and hospital accountability? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments and join the discussion with other readers.
