Complications arising from the designs of certain inferior vena cava filter devices, like Boston Scientific’s Greenfield filter, have caused many patients across the country to suffer severe injuries when the small devices fractured or broke inside the body.

What are IVC Filters Used For?

IVC filters, like Boston Scientific’s Greenfield filter, are used to to filter blood clots and prevent them from reaching a patient’s lungs by acting like a type of trap for a predetermined size of blood clot.

A pulmonary embolism can cause permanent damage to the lungs and in severe cases, may even result in death.

The devices are inserted via a surgical process into the inferior vena cava (a large blood vein that extends from the lower torso up to the heart).

However, many patients have encountered serious, even life-threatening problems from IVC filters including:

• Device fracturing
• Device migrating to other parts of the body
• Device perforating
• Device tilting
• Device becoming irretrievable

Patients with a failing or defective IVC filter often present with chest pain or shortness of breath. Since this is atypical, these patients present to their doctor or the emergency room for an evaluation or treatment.

A medical professional will order imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, to determine if the IVC filter may be the cause of the patient’s chest pain or shortness of breath.

FDA Issues Warning for IVC Filters

As far back as early 2005, the FDA received 921 device adverse event reports involving IVC filters. These reports included:

• 328 involved device migration
• 146 involved embolizations (detachment of device components)
• 70 involved perforation of the IVC
• 56 involved filter fracture

Some of these events led to adverse clinical outcomes in patients. These types of events may be related to a retrievable filter remaining in the body for long periods of time, beyond the time when the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) has subsided.

The FDA is concerned that these retrievable IVC filters, like the Greenfield filter, intended for short-term placement, are not always removed once a patient’s risk for pulmonary embolism subsides.

Known long-term risks associated with IVC filters include but are not limited to lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), filter fracture, filter migration, filter embolization and IVC perforation.

Lawsuits Involving IVC Filters

Lawsuits over the Boston Scientific’s Greenfield filter join a growing number of claims brought against manufacturers of IVC filters in recent years, alleging similar design defects with products like the Bard Recovery IVC Filter, Bard G2 IVC Filter, and Cook Celect or Gunther Tulip IVC Filters.

Boston Scientific is facing a handful of IVC filter lawsuits, but about 350 cases are currently pending against Cook Medical. The lawsuits are centralized in Illinois federal court.

Were You or a Loved One Harmed by a Greenfield Filter?

IVC filters, like the Greenfield filter, have been linked to an increasing number of complications, such as migration and perforation of various organs in the body.

These filters were originally thought to be extremely beneficial for certain patients but many people develop complications which can be potentially life threatening.

You or your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries sustained as a result of a Boston Scientific’s Greenfield filter or other IVC filter device.