Call Moll Law Group About an Abbott Trifecta Valve Lawsuit
Some patients with diseased aortic heart valves or who have malfunctioning or damaged prosthetic aortic heart valves were treated with Trifecta and Trifecta Valve GT. The FDA first approved first generation Trifecta valves in 2011. While the first generation model is no longer in service, many other kinds of Trifecta Valves have been implanted since. Studies show that the Abbott Trifecta Valves require more reintervention than other commercial valves. They’ve deteriorated in some instances just three to four years after being implanted.
Health care providers have been told about the potential dangers of early structural valve deterioration (SVD), but the full risks are not known. If you were harmed by a valve or a loved one died because of the deterioration of an Abbott Trifecta Valve, you should let the FDA know about the adverse event, so that it can get a better sense of the dangers. You can also expect that your health care provider is now aware of the possible risks and if you have one implanted, you should see your provider to determine the next best steps.
Even before the Trifecta Valve was implanted, your doctor should have discussed potential harms and benefits of every treatment option available to you, as a patient. Your provider should be following the instructions for use promulgated by the manufacturer and follow your well-being over time to make sure your valve is still working; if there are signs and symptoms of deterioration, your provider should address them to the extent possible. Starting one year after implantation, your annual follow-up visit should include a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) assessment of the valve. Meanwhile, as a patient with an implanted Trifecta valve, be sure to seek medical care for symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue.
If you were already injured or a loved one died as a result of an Abbott Trifecta Valve, the current recommendations may not do you much good. However, our attorneys may be able to bring a product liability lawsuit for compensatory damages like pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills against Abbott, on your behalf. If your doctor failed to pay attention to the warnings last year and subsequently implanted you with a Trifecta valve against the applicable professional standard of care, you may also have grounds to recover damages in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
We represent patients who have been harmed by defective Trifecta Valves around the country. If you were harmed by one of these valves, please contact our experienced Chicago-based product liability and medical malpractice attorneys about your legal options, either by completing our online form or by calling us at 312.462.1700.