Temporary or “retrievable” inferior vena cava (IVC) filters left in too long might cause serious complications, including the very issue the devices are intended to prevent: pulmonary embolism – a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot. The inferior vena cava is the body’s largest artery.

IVC filter complications have resulted in lawsuits against several of the manufacturers of this possibly dangerous device, which the FDA announced in 2010 had been linked to 921 reports of injuries due to the devices being left in the body too long.

The FDA stressed that many of these IVC complications resulted because the temporary IVC filters were being left in as long-term solutions, which they were not intended to be. Further investigations prompted the FDA to recommend that IVC filter removal be completed between 29 and 54 days after implantation.

What Are IVC Filters?

IVC filters are tiny screen-like devices designed to filter out blood clots in the inferior vena cava artery before they make their way to the lungs or heart.

When a blood clot restricts blood flow to the lungs, it decreases oxygen in the blood. That oxygen-deprived blood can damage other organs. Large or multiple blood clots can be deadly. IVC filters are designed to trap the blood clots to allow the body to dissolve the clots without interrupting normal blood flow.

Temporary IVC filters are used by doctors to treat patients who do not react well to traditional anticoagulant therapy and in patients who have had surgery or an accident that temporarily increases the chance of blood clots.

IVC Filter Complications Linked to Extended Use

Retrievable or “short-term” IVC filters were created as a safer alternative to permanent IVC filters. However, retrievable IVC filter removal that is not completed within a window of 29 to 54 days of insertion could result in a higher incidence of complications, including a pulmonary embolism, according to a safety update issued by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration in May 2014.

IVC filter complications can occur in several ways. A piece of the filter can break off and travel through the artery. Pieces of the IVC filter can migrate to the heart or lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Other blood clotting called thrombosis can occur when an IVC filter is left in too long. IVC thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, and access site thrombosis are among the most common IVC filter complications.

In other instances, the IVC filter punctures the inferior vena cava artery.

Neglecting to perform IVC filter removal also can result in the IVC filter developing a fracture, which could allow dangerous blood clots to move through it.

The FDA said in 2010 that once the risk of a pulmonary embolism had waned, the IVC filter should be removed in most cases. In a safety notice, the FDA stated that 328 complaints were associated with filter migration, 146 were related to broken IVC filter fragments, 70 included IVC perforation, and 50 were related to the IVC filter becoming fractured.

IVC Filter Lawsuits

IVC filter lawsuits aim to hold the manufacturers responsible for allegations of inferior design, manufacturing defects, and neglecting to disclose potential risks to patients.

IVC filter manufacturers include ALN Implants Chirurgicaux, Bard Peripheral Vascular, B Braun Medical, Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, Cordis, Rafael Medical Technologies and Rex Medical.

Filing a successful IVC filter lawsuit could help victims of IVC filter complications to obtain compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.