In July 2023, Abbot Laboratories recalled its Trifecta Heart Valve and announced it would stop producing the devices. The valves were implanted in people with diseased or damaged aortic valves beginning in 2011. Since 2016, only the Trifecta GT model has been available in the U.S.
If you received an aortic valve from the Abbot Trifecta family, contact our law firm immediately. We are currently interviewing people affected by this dangerous medical device. We plan to bring mass tort litigation against the manufacturer and other responsible parties demanding compensation for the unnecessary suffering of patients who received this defective heart valve.
What an Artificial Aortic Valve Does
The aortic valve regulates blood flow between the left ventricle of the heart and the aorta. From the aorta, the blood circulates oxygenated blood throughout the body. If the aortic valve does not work properly, the heart must work harder to get sufficient blood flow throughout the body, leading to heart failure.
People with congenital heart valve abnormalities or diseases of the heart valve often require surgery to replace the valve. Mechanical valves require patients to take blood thinners for the rest of their lives, which poses a substantial risk of complications. Some valves, like the Abbott Trifecta valve, are bioprosthetic valves made partly of animal tissues. These do not require the use of blood thinners and are a better choice for many patients.
The bioprosthetic valves break down over time, but they typically last 10-15 years or longer. However, the Trifecta valves sometimes degrade in less than five years, and there are reports of degradation happening very suddenly. You might need another surgery to replace an eroding bioprosthetic valve on an emergency basis. Any patient who has been advised their Trifecta valve must be replaced should speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Consequences of Structural Valve Deterioration (SVD)
Structural valve deterioration (SVD) is potentially fatal if not treated successfully. When your aortic valve begins to fail, you might experience increasing fatigue and shortness of breath, leading to severe distress and, eventually, heart failure.
If the valve is deteriorating, you could require the insertion of a replacement valve. This often requires open heart surgery. Sometimes a less invasive procedure, called a transcatheter valve-in-valve replacement (TAVR), can correct the problem.
Heart Valve Replacement Risks
Procedures to replace the defective valve are risky. If open heart surgery is required, you could be hospitalized for several days, including a day or more in the intensive care unit. The incision is large, and the procedure is painful and mentally and physically stressful.
Serious complications could arise from open heart surgery, including excessive bleeding, blood clots that could cause heart attack or stroke, and pneumonia. Recovery can take months, and post-operative patients might become depressed or develop other mental health issues.
TAVR requires a smaller incision and usually a shorter recovery time. However, complications with this procedure also could be severe and include kidney damage, heart rhythm abnormalities that require a pacemaker, severe bleeding, and stroke.
Mass Tort Litigation Seeks Compensation for Patients Who Were Harmed
When a company produces a dangerous medical device, they are liable for the harm patients suffer due to the defective product. You can receive reimbursement for your medical costs and lost wages, and payments to acknowledge your physical pain, inconvenience, disability, decreased lifespan, mental anguish, and other impacts the device had on your quality of life.
When many patients suffer harm from a single product, courts often consolidate their lawsuits against the manufacturer into a single case or several regional cases called mass tort actions. The group of affected patients must prove the product was defective, and then each patient can offer proof of their injuries and damages. Companies often settle mass tort claims, with each patient receiving a sum based on their specific circumstances and medical outcome.
Call Our Law Firm Today to Discuss Your Experience With the Abbott Trifecta Valve
Charles E. Boyk Law Offices represents people who received an Abbott Trifecta aortic valve replacement and suffered from SVD. We also represent the families of people who died of complications of SVD or following surgery to replace an Abbott Trifecta valve.
If you received an Abbott Trifecta aortic valve or if your family member had one and died of complications related to it, contact us now. We can help you get fair compensation for the harm you have suffered.
