Recent findings associate retrievable vena cava filters with complications such as device movement, breaking, and becoming lodged within the body, in addition to organ damage and internal hemorrhage. Should a vena cava filter break post-implantation, the patient may experience intense discomfort, internal hemorrhage, blood clots, and other critical health issues.
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 is a Vena Cava Filter?
The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body. It carries oxygen-depleted (blue) blood from the lower body to the right atrium of the heart and then to the lungs.
An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small, cone-shaped device that is surgically implanted into the inferior vena cava just beneath the kidneys. The filter is designed to capture blood clots that break loose from the deep veins of the legs that are on their way to the heart and lungs.
Studies Show 1 in 4 IVC Filters Fracture
A study performed by the New England Society for Vascular Surgery (NESVS) identified a 31% fracture rate in vena cava filter recipients. Most of these patients were later found to have splinters of the device in their right heart ventricles. Another study conducted by Dr. William Nicholson of York Hospital in PA determined that 25% of IVC filter patients had splinters that broke off, most of which traveled to an end organ such as the heart, lungs or hepatic vein.
Vena Cava Filter Complications
- Fracture of the IVC Filter
- Perforation, Puncture or Serious Damage to the Heart, Lungs or Vena Cava
- 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
Blood Clot Filters Designed for Temporary Use Only
Since the 1960s, more than 100,000 inferior vena cava filters have been implanted in patients around the country. These filters were not designed for permanent placement. Manufacturers made them retrievable so they could be removed once the danger of blood clots passed. However, Bard has petitioned the FDA to have blood clot filters approved for permanent use. Despite this request, FDA still recommends that IVC filters be removed as soon as the blood clot risk subsides.
Which Brands are Affected?
Our lawyers are reviewing potential lawsuits for people who were injured after receiving the following brands of vena cava filters:
Bard IVC Filter
Cook IVC Filter
Other Manufacturers
- ALN IVC Filter
- Argon Medical OptionELITE IVC Filter
- B. Braun IVC filters (Tempofilter IVC filter, Tempofilter II IVC filter, VenaTech LGM IVC filter and VenaTech LP IVC filter)
- Cordis OptEase IVC Filter
- Crux Vena Cava Filter
Did Manufacturers Know the Dangers?
It has been alleged that as early as 2003, Bard was aware that its vena cava filters posed an unreasonable risk of fracturing after being implanted. The company did not report these findings to the FDA, nor did it warn patients or doctors, and continued to manufacture the devices. Bard only pulled the Recovery IVC off the market in 2005 when it had designed a new filter, the G2. Since then, FDA has received nearly 1,000 adverse event reports associated with Bard IVC filters.
Cook IVC Filter Multidistrict Litigation
On October 15, 2014, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) [1] ruled that all federal lawsuits involving Cook IVC filters will be centralized in the Southern District of Indiana before District Judge Richard L. Young. All of the complaints involve similar allegations that manufacturing defects with Cook vena cava filters make the devices likely to fracture, migrate and puncture internal organs.
FAQs
What types of complications are associated with vena cava filters?
Complications associated with vena cava filters include device migration, breakage, perforation of the vena cava or other organs, and difficulty in removal. These issues can lead to severe health problems and require extensive medical treatment.
What compensation can be sought in a vena cava filter lawsuit?
Compensation can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related costs. In severe cases, punitive damages may also be awarded to penalize the manufacturer for negligence.
Can I join a class action lawsuit if I was affected by a vena cava filter?
Yes, individuals affected by vena cava filter complications may join a class action lawsuit if one is available. Class action lawsuits allow multiple plaintiffs to combine their cases, providing a stronger collective legal action against the manufacturers.
What evidence is needed to support a vena cava filter lawsuit?
Evidence needed to support a vena cava filter lawsuit includes medical records showing the implantation and complications, imaging studies, and expert testimony linking the device to the injuries.
Do I Have a Vena Cava 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 Vena Cava Filter Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new complications 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.