What Is an Abbott Trifecta Valve?
The Abbott Trifecta valve is an artificial heart valve that replaces damaged or defective aortic valves. When working properly, these artificial heart valves are critical medical devices that can save lives.
However, flaws in the Abbott Trifecta valve can cause it to fail early. In some cases, it failed before reaching a third of its expected lifespan, putting patients at risk of sudden cardiac events.
Due to this danger, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the valves, and Abbott discontinued the devices in July 2023. Unfortunately, by this point, the damage had already been done. Some patients had already suffered injuries because of the valve, and others now had artificial valves in their bodies that they knew could fail at any time.
Types of Defective Product Lawsuits
Products can be defective in three primary ways. They can have design defects, manufacturing defects, or warning defects. Examples of these product defects include:
Products that are defective by design are inherently dangerous to consumers. Many victims allege that the Abbott Trifecta valve is defective by design for various reasons, including its early failure and potential to cause other adverse medical conditions.
Products with a manufacturing defect aren’t dangerous due to their design but because something went wrong during production. This is not the case with the Abbott Trifecta valve. The flaws in the product stem from its initial design, not a faulty manufacturing process.
Products can also be defective if they lack the proper safety labels that warn of the risks of their use or instruct consumers how to use them. Additionally, marketing that makes misleading claims about a product can count as a defective warning. While some victims may allege that the Abbott Trifecta valve suffered from defective warnings, the main issue still seems to be with the product’s design.
Risks of Using the Abbott Trifecta Valve
According to one study in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, the Abbott Trifecta valve can fail in multiple ways. The risks of using this medical device include:
The primary issue with the Abbott Trifecta valve is that it can fail earlier than expected. When doctors and patients expect a device to last 10 to 15 years, they can plan to monitor and replace it when it approaches that lifespan. However, when the device fails earlier than expected, it can lead to sudden cardiac events that aren’t prepared for.
The valve’s cusps can become calcified, leading to poor blood flow, inflammation, and other health issues.
This condition occurs when the aortic valve doesn’t close properly, allowing blood to flow backward.
Growths can develop on the valve’s leaflets, which may lead to inflammation and further degradation of the device.
If you had an Abbott Trifecta valve implant and suffered an injury because of it, you may be eligible to seek compensation through a mass tort injury lawsuit. Complete our questionnaire to learn more.
Evidence Required for Trifecta Valve Lawsuit Eligibility
To successfully recover compensation through a mass tort lawsuit after an Abbott Trifecta valve injury, you need the following evidence:
- Abbott Trifecta Valve Implantation – You must have documentation that you had the medical device implanted. This information may be found in your medical records, or you may need a written notice from your surgeon.
- Injury Diagnosis – You must have been diagnosed with an injury or condition caused by the device. Preemptively having the device removed and replaced due to the risk of failure may qualify as a medical condition in these cases.
- Medical Treatment Records – Your medical records must show the treatment you underwent to treat your condition, including replacing the device.
- Financial Records – You need to show that you suffered financial loss because of the condition or injury. This is typically done by presenting medical bills or financial statements demonstrating wage loss.
An experienced attorney from Ron Bell Law can gather the necessary evidence for your lawsuit.
Compensation Available for Abbott Trifecta Valve Victims
The compensation you could recover through your mass tort lawsuit includes:
- Medical Expenses – Compensation for surgeries, medical devices, treatments, prescription medications, and hospital stays.
- Lost Wages – Compensation for the income you lost due to your condition and recovery period.
- Loss of Future Earning Capacity – Compensation for the income you will lose due to your condition’s impact on your ability to work.
- Pain and Suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and suffering you endured because of your condition.
- Emotional Distress – Compensation for the emotional distress you experienced, either due to your injury or condition or due to the loss of a loved one because of the faulty medical device.
- Funeral and Burial Costs – If your loved one passed away because of an issue arising from the Abbott Trifecta valve, you may be able to seek compensation for funeral and burial costs through a wrongful death lawsuit.
Contact an Abbott Trifecta Valve Mass Tort Injury Lawyer
If you suffered an injury caused by an Abbott Trifecta valve or had to have one replaced early, you may be able to recover compensation through a mass tort lawsuit. Complete our questionnaire to learn whether you’re eligible to file a mass tort lawsuit. The mass tort lawyers of Ron Bell Law can handle your case for you.