Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters like the OptionELITE made by Argon Medical have been linked to adverse health complications including perforation of tissues and organs, hemorrhaging, respiratory compromise, ventricle tachycardia and 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.
Option ELITE IVC Filter Lawsuit Filed in Philadelphia
March 3, 2017 - A California woman whose doctor was allegedly unable to retrieve an Option ELITE IVC filter from her body has filed a products liability lawsuit against Argon Medical Devices and Rex Medical in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Plaintiff Debra Victor claims the filter couldn't be removed because it had become embedded in her vena cava, and is suing the companies for manufacturing a defective medical device.
Related Article: IVC Filter Lawsuit
What is the Option ELITE?
The Option ELITE IVC filter is designed to be inserted into the vena cava -- a large vein that transports deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart -- to protect against pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs). Unlike most IVC filters, the device can be retrieved or remain implanted, depending on whether the patient needs short-term or long-term protection. The Option ELITE is made by Argon Medical Devices, Inc., and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2014.
How Common are IVC Filters?
IVC filters have been increasingly used since they were first introduced nearly 40 years ago. In 1979, about 2,000 IVC filters were implanted in U.S. patients; by 2012, that number jumped to more than 250,000.
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Complications
Despite their widespread usage, IVC filters have been linked to a large number of severe, potentially life-threatening complications including:
- Fracture of the IVC filter
- Device Migration / Embolization
- Insertion-site Thrombosis
- Perforation, Puncture or Serious Damage to the Heart, Lungs or Vena Cava
- Internal Bleeding
- Cardiac or Pericardial Tamponade
- Ventricle Tachycardia
- Lower Limb Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Hematoma or Nerve Injury at the Puncture Site
- Constant and Severe Pain in the Heart, Chest or Elsewhere in the Body
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Respiratory Distress
- Infection
- Shortness of Breath
- Death
JAMA Study Highlights Risks of Long-Term IVC Filter Use
According to a March 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) [1], although retrievable vena cava filters are designed for temporary protection, many are left permanently implanted in patients. The researchers performed a review of IVC filter use from Aug. 1, 2003 thru Feb. 28, 2011, and found that of 679 retrievable IVC filters, only 58 were successfully removed. Thirteen patients had unsuccessful retrieval events, and 74 suffered thrombotic events after receiving the devices. The study’s authors concluded that IVC filter placement for certain uses resulted in "suboptimal outcomes."
Are Cases Being Settled?
A number of individual lawsuit settlements have been reached out of court. However, the manufacturers are currently unwilling to settle these cases on a large scale. While we believe they will ultimately be forced to resolve the suits, there remains much work to do and it may take some time before any global settlements are reached. Therefore, our lawyers are pursuing IVC filter settlements on behalf of individuals who were injured by this allegedly defective device.
Do I Have an Option ELITE IVC Filter Lawsuit?
The Medical Device Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Option ELITE 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.
