Blood clot filter makers Boston Scientific Corp. and Cook Medical Inc. are facing a growing number of lawsuits, with two recent liability complaints filed in Kentucky federal court.

These IVC blood clot lawsuits allege the devices had either shifted or caused blockages in patients who suffering from deep vein thrombosis.

The claims also allege the companies negligently designed defective IVC blood clot filters: Boston Scientific Greenfield Vena Cava filters and Cook Celect Vena Cava filters – both of which either migrated away from the implant sight or caused problems after the devices broke apart.

According to these particular IVC blood clot filter lawsuits, these IVC blood clot filters were implanted in patients who were trying to treat their pulmonary embolisms.

Overview of IVC Blood Clot Filter Side Effects

One of the IVC blood clot filter lawsuit plaintiffs, Katherine M., underwent blood clot filter surgery to treat her deep vein thrombosis in her right leg in May 2005.  She alleges that soon after her IVC blood clot filter surgery, she experienced pain in her thigh and lower abdomen.

Katherine had the Boston Scientific Greenfield IVC Filter implanted in her inferior vena cava. Just a month later, she was admitted to the hospital with extensive clots in the right leg and acute deep vein thrombosis in her left.

Diagnostic testing revealed Katherine was suffering from many blood clots and that the IVC blood clot filter was obstructing her circulation.

As a result of the IVC blood clot filter side effects, Katherine has to be on blood thinners for the rest of her life.

Similarly, Plaintiff Olenda H.’s IVC blood clot filter lawsuit against Cook Medical alleges she also suffered IVC blood clot filter side effects soon after the device was implanted. After suffering pain in her back and lower extremity, diagnostic imaging showed significant blood clot formation.

Olenda was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in her right leg in February 2013, and suffered chronic lower back pain soon after. After being admitted to the emergency room in July 2015 for this back pain, angiogram images showed fresh thrombus had developed in her pulmonary vasculature.

In addition, the angiogram showed the IVC blood clot filter had tilted and caused deep vein thrombosis in her left lower extremity. This caused the doctors to implant an addition IVC device above the Cook model, with Olenda having to undergo blood clot surgery. Olenda will also have to blood thinners on a long term basis.

Both of these IVC blood clot filter lawsuits allege various damages of negligence including product liability, warranty, strict liability, negligence, and gross negligence.

Furthermore, both women allege the doctors who implanted the IVC blood clot filters received no warnings or special instructions from the manufacturing companies.

In 2010, the FDA advised healthcare professionals of the potential IVC blood clot filter side effects associated with long term use of the devices. The agency issued this warning after receiving over 900 adverse event reports regarding IVC blood clot filters since 2005.

The respective IVC Blood Clot Filter Lawsuits are Case No. 5:16-cv-00065 and 5:16-cv-00066, both filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.