University of Kansas Hospital faces over 30 lawsuits in Wyandotte County alleging improper sterilization of LivaNova 3T heater-cooler units (HCUs) during open-heart surgeries caused slow-growing Mycobacterium chimaera infections in at least 25 patients, with 11 deaths reported.
Key Cases
Vietnam veteran Darrell Schroll contracted the infection post-2019 surgery, spreading to his eyes, brain, heart, lungs, LVAD, and liver, leaving him emaciated before his decline; his daughter Kristy sues for malpractice and failure to warn or treat. Similarly, Ron Wood died in 2021 after a 2019 aortic valve procedure, suffering extreme weight loss and fatigue—his widow Thelma seeks $20 million, decrying avoidable negligence.
Hospital Response
Newer HCU models with design changes now reduce infection risks, and officials claim proactive patient outreach once issues surfaced, prioritizing complex cardiac care. Families seek accountability to prevent future lapses and raise awareness.
