Paul Tassin  |  September 29, 2016

Category: Legal News

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Blood-Clot-Filter-LawsuitA new blood clot filter lawsuit takes device manufacturer Cook Medical to task for complications associated with its Günther Tulip filter.

Plaintiff Christopher E. says he was injured by a Günther Tulip IVC filter after it was implanted in his inferior vena cava in 2004.

He attributes the injury to negligence on the part of Cook Medical, the device’s manufacturer.

An IVC filter is a device used to prevent blood clot-related injuries like pulmonary embolism in patients for whom anticoagulant medication isn’t a viable option.

These devices consist of a small basket-like wire filter that is positioned inside the inferior vena cava, the vein that returns blood from the lower body to the heart and lungs.

According to Christopher’s blood clot filter lawsuit, the Günther Tulip filter is defective and unsafe.

He alleges Cook Medical failed to issue proper warnings about the risks associated with the device.

Blood Clod Filter Lawsuit Alleges Failure to Warn

In Christopher’s claim and many others like it, plaintiffs claim the manufacturers of these filters fail to adequately warn doctors and patients about the potential complications associated with IVC filters.

Various reports detail cases in which IVC filters have tilted out of place or perforated the inferior vena cava.

Some filters have reportedly fractured, leaving pieces of the filter loose in the bloodstream where they can migrate elsewhere in the body.

Other filters have reportedly come loose and migrated completely out of place.

Studies Show High Rates of IVC Filter Perforation

Scientific studies have documented cases of perforation associated with use of the Günther Tulip and other filters.

In one study published in the journal Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology in April 2012, researchers studied the results of implantation with both the Tulip and Celect filter, also made by Cook Medical.

On imaging studies performed between 1 and 880 days after implantation, the researchers found that at least one part of the filter had perforated the vein wall in 43 of the 50 filters studied, or 86 percent.

All filters showed at least some degree of perforation when imaged after 71 days.

The researchers noted that 20 out of 50 filters, or 40 percent, had tilted away from their original orientation. All tilted filters showed signs of perforation.

The researchers concluded that leaving the Günther Tulip in place longer usually results in perforation of the vein.

They noted that “clinical sequelae from IVC filter components breaching the vena cava can be significant,” and they recommended removing IVC filters as early as clinically indicated.

A later study, published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology in November 2013, imaging studies revealed IVC perforation in 69 out of 160 Tulip filters studied, or 49 percent.

Perforations may affect not just the walls of the inferior vena cava itself but also the surrounding organs, potentially requiring surgery for correction. Perforation can also complicate filter removal or make it impossible altogether.

Christopher’s Blood Clot Filter Lawsuit is Case No. 1:16-cv-02308, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

In general, IVC filter lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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If you or a loved one were injured by IVC filter complications, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free IVC filter class action lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

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