Update: Lawsuit Claims Port-a-Cath Leak Medications
A recent lawsuit was filed on behalf of a cancer patient who was injured after his TIVAD port broke and leaked chemotherapy medications into his body from the port implantation site.
The complaint was filed by the family of Jesus L. III, who was implanted with an AngioDynamics Vortex Port in June 2019 at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston for chemotherapy.
Angioflow Vortex Port Failed Weeks After Implantation
The lawsuit claims that less than two weeks after receiving the totally implanted port, he had to undergo another surgery to remove the Angioflow Vortex port after the device failed. It was later determined that the port was leaking chemotherapy medication under his skin around the Angioflow Power Port. Sadly, Jesus died in May 2021.
What is the Tivad Totally Implanted Port?
TIVAD stands for Totally Implantable Venous Access Device, also known as Port A Caths, which are used to access veins in cancer patients. During the implantation procedure, Tivad ports are placed under the skin and are connected to the vein via a catheter.
This allows doctors and healthcare professionals to easily administer medicines and transfusions to patients without the risk of adverse health complications, and implantable ports are often a more expedient and comfortable way to administer these treatments.
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Who Needs a Bioflow Port?
Totally implanted ports are highly recommended for those who require regular access to a vein for medication and/or therapy. They are most often implanted in cancer patients who require radiation therapy for treatment.
Other uses include patients with serious injuries who require the following medical procedures on a regular basis:
- Blood transfusions
- Blood draws from a big vein or smaller veins
- Repeated blood samples
- Those who require frequent dressings
- Antibiotic treatments
- Other IV treatments
What's the Problem With Tivad Implantable Ports?
TIVAD totally implanted ports are made of silicone mixed with barium sulfate, so they can be viewed on an X-ray. The problem is that barium sulfate can reduce the strength of silicone over time, which can cause the implanted ports to break or leak.
Tivad Ports Injuries
Those filing lawsuits allege that Tivad ports have been linked to numerous life-threatening injuries and complications, including:
- Hemorrhage (internal bleeding)
- Cardiac / pericardial tamponade
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Septum dislodgements
- Severe and persistent pain
- Perforations of tissue, vessels, and organs
- Breakage of the TIVAD device
- Leak medications and fluids into the body
- Infection
- Sepsis
- Erosion of the TIVAD through the skin
- Hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Cardiac/pericardial tamponade (pressure around the heart) due to fluid leaking
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Cancer advancement when the TIVAD breaks or leaks medication, which reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapy
- Necrosis (death of body tissue from lack of blood flow)
- Perforation of tissue, blood vessels, or organs
- Wound coming apart
- Removal surgery
- Death
Silicone Injection Port Leakage
The locking mechanism between the Angioflow Power Port and the catheter has been found to leak in many patients.
Lawsuits allege that the manufacturer was aware of a design defect in the Vortex port which caused a high incidence of failure of the locking mechanism which secures the catheter to the stem of the injection port.
Catheter Separation
Due to this defect, the Vortex port has an increased risk that the catheter will separate from the injection port, causing medication and administered fluids to leak into the tissue of the silicone injection port implantation site, during blood transfusions.
Power Port Duo Breakage
Complaints further allege that soon after the Vortex vital port was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2001, the manufacturers began receiving reports of the Vortex Port breaking after being implanted, with fractured pieces of the device migrating to other areas of the body, including the heart and lungs.
BioFlo Port Flex Fatigue
Catheter fractures occur mainly due to a reduction in durability due to constant flexing – also known as flex fatigue. When this happens, the catheter typically breaks into multiple pieces and is swept throughout the circulatory system.
In cases where it gets swept into the heart, emergency heart surgery may be required to remove the fragments. Additionally, this puts patients at a higher risk of a pulmonary embolism – a blockage in lung arteries that can cause significant permanent damage to a patient’s lungs.
Vital Port Infections
As the power port duo catheter has a reduction in durability over time, it is possible for bacteria and other harmful pathogens to get through holes in the catheter.
In many cases, these holes allow bacteria to enter the catheter, but are often too small for the body’s immune cells to pass through. This can cause severe infections that the body is not able to fight.
BioFlo Port Dislodgement
Much like a catheter fracture, a vital port catheter has the potential to dislodge from the implanted vital port device locking mechanism and travel to other areas in the body.
Although this has the potential for increased risk of serious injury, dislodged catheters often remain whole, so procedures to remove them from a patient's skin or surrounding tissues are less intensive and severe compared to catheter fractures.
Who is Liable for Lawsuit Claims?
In cases involving Tivad injuries, it is usually the manufacturer who is held responsible for any serious injuries that occur. Tivad catheters are made of silicone and polyurethane, and no other reinforcements or additives to increase durability.
There are multiple types of completely harmless coatings and additives that may be used to reinforce catheters or prevent degradation from occurring over time.
However, manufacturers have failed to implement these safety measures in an effort to maximize profits and reduce costs.
By neglecting to use these safety measures, manufacturers may have been negligent in their duty and held fully accountable for their actions.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
It is highly recommended to consult a knowledgeable lawyer prior to filing a Tivad Lawsuit. These cases are typically considered product liability, also known as defective products or medical devices.
These lawsuits are incredibly difficult to litigate, requiring a considerable amount of experience in order to prevail successfully.
A lawyer with experience in product liability cases can help greatly, performing all litigation on your behalf to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Furthermore, complaints against giant pharmaceutical giants can be intimidating, as many of these companies have extensive legal teams with massive resources they use to protect their own personal interests.
Hiring a lawyer can help you even the playing field, giving you valuable legal counsel that can provide an equally strong representation in your lawsuit.
Get a Free Tivad Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers
The Medical Device Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Tivad Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new potential injury and death cases on behalf of patients in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one was injured by Tivad implantable ports, you should contact our lawyers immediately. Patients may be entitled to seek justice and financial compensation for medical care by filing a suit and we can help.
