Published by C.R. Bard, a major American manufacturer of medical devices, is currently confronted with legal actions claiming that its G2 Express Inferior Vena Cava Filter System has a tendency to break apart after implantation. When this happens, small fragments of the device can penetrate or damage essential organs, lead to internal bleeding, pulmonary embolism, and potentially result in death.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has had an IVC filter implanted, you should contact our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are evaluating every individual case regardless of whether you have been injured or not. So, if you have received an IVC filter implant, we would like to speak with you. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
Table Of Contents
What are Vena Cava Filters?
IVC filters are implanted in patients who are at risk for developing pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening emergency that occurs when a blood clot becomes trapped in the lungs.
The devices are often used when an anticoagulant drug is contraindicated, or if such medications have not been effective in the past. Vena cava filters contain spider-like legs or “struts” that extend out to catch blood clots that may travel from elsewhere in the body, most often the deep veins of the legs or arms.
Related Article: IVC Filter Lawsuit 2023 Update
FDA Warning
Unfortunately, it has recently been found that inferior vena cava filters like the Bard G2 Express System can fracture after being implanted, sending small pieces of the device to other parts of the body, such as the heart or lungs.
A large number of reports of these kinds of incidences led the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a warning about IVC Filters in August 2010. FDA stated that doctors should remove the devices once the blood clot danger has passed, to reduce the risk of the filters breaking free and migrating throughout the patient’s body.
Of the 921 IVC filter injury reports submitted to the FDA:
- 328 involved the device breaking away from the implant site and migrating to other parts of the body
- 146 involved filter components breaking loose
- 70 involved inferior vena cava perforation
- 56 involved filter fractures
Complications
- Fracture of the IVC Filter
- Perforation
- Internal Bleeding
- Cardiac or Pericardial Tamponade
- Ventricle Tachycardia
- Lower Limb DVT
- Hematoma or Nerve Injury at the Puncture Site
- Constant and Severe Pain in the Heart, Chest, or Elsewhere in the Body
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Infection
- Death
Warning Signs
Warning signs that an IVC filter has fractured or embolized inside the body may include:
- Severe pain in the heart or chest
- Anxiety
- Pulmonary embolus
- Respiratory compromise
- Hemorrhage
- Perforation of organs, tissues, or blood vessels
Patients who believe their IVC filters may have fractured should contact their doctor immediately. A computerized tomography (CT) scan or other test will be used to determine whether the device has failed.
Lawsuit Alleges Manufacturer Hid Risks
In August 2012, C.R. Bard was slapped with two class action lawsuits over its vena cava filters, which allege that the devices tend to fracture after implantation and perforate patients’ organs. One of the complaints was filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County, and the other was entered in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Allegations raised in the suit claim that Bard knew for years their IVC filters were prone to fracture, but failed to warn the public and medical communities about these risks. The complaints seek class-action status for patients who were implanted with a Bard Recovery, G2, or G2 Express.
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FAQs
1. Who Can File a Bard G2 Express IVC Filter Lawsuit?
Individuals who have experienced complications or injuries due to a Bard G2 Express IVC filter may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
2. Can Family Members of Affected Individuals File a Lawsuit?
In some cases, family members may be able to file a lawsuit, particularly if the affected individual has passed away or is incapacitated.
3. What Role Does Expert Testimony Play in a Bard G2 Express IVC Filter Lawsuit?
Expert testimony from medical professionals can be crucial in establishing the defectiveness of the filter and the extent of your injuries.
Do I Have a Bard G2 Express IVC Filter Lawsuit?
The Medical Device Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Bard G2 Express IVC Filter Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has had an IVC filter implanted, you should contact our law firm immediately. Our lawyers are evaluating every individual case regardless of whether you have been injured or not. So, if you have received an IVC filter implant, we would like to speak with you. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: