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

What is an IVC Filter?

An inferior vena cava filter, or IVC filter, is a medical device that is inserted into the body to prevent blood clots from causing a pulmonary embolism. Usually, these devices are used for people who are unable to take traditional blood thinning medication.

The spider-like device can trap blood clots before they are able to cause serious complications, such as pulmonary embolism.

Cook Medical is one of the major manufacturers of inferior vena cava filter devices.

In August 2010, the FDA issued a warning to doctors, alerting them about the risk of problems with IVC filter placement, such as those manufactured by Cook Medical. The agency indicated that inferior vena cava filter devices should be removed in many cases once the danger of a pulmonary embolism has passed.

What are Complications of IVC Filter Placement?

Unfortunately, IVC filters, like those manufactured by Cook Medical, have been linked to serious complications. High rates of IVC filter complications including device fracture and device migration have been reported with several models made by Cook.

At least 900 adverse event reports have been received by the FDA involving IVC filter complications.

When filters fracture from their intended location, there is risk of severe internal injuries. Damage to other organs in the body, or perforation of the vena cava vein, are complications that can be extremely dangerous and require additional medical attention.

Filter migration is another of the major complications that has been linked to IVC filters. Migration occurs when the device moves from its intended location. Experts believe this movement may be due to regular breathing of the patient, or aortic palpitations; both of which are normal, every day occurrences that cannot be prevented by the patient.

When the inferior vena cava filter migrates, it may no longer be able to preform its job. Additionally, filter migration can cause damage to nearby organs, as sharp edges from the device can puncture or perforate the inferior vena cava or other nearby areas.

Studies Examine IVC Filter Risk

In April 2015, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that IVC filters were not as effective as blood thinners at preventing pulmonary embolism. The researchers found that filter recipients were twice as likely to have a blood clot travel to their lungs than those on blood thinners.

A study published in August 2015 in a letter in JAMA warned that the long-term risks of IVC filters may negate any health benefits they provide in catching blood clots.

Another inferior vena cava study published in the April 2012 issue of CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology found that all Cook Celect and Gunther Tulip filters showed some degree of vena caval perforation after just 71 days.

The researchers found that full perforation of at least one component all the way through the IVC wall occurred in 86% of all cases. The filters were found to have tiled in 40% of cases.

Like the FDA, the researchers called for the removal of IVC filters as early as clinically indicated. They also called on doctors to take a close look at IVC filters during follow-up imaging scans.

Inferior Vena Cava Lawsuit Information

In October 2014, all Cook Medical IVC filter lawsuits were centralized as part of an MDL in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana for pretrial proceedings. As IVC injury lawyers continue to review and file new claims in the future, it is expected that the size of the Cook Medical Inferior Vena Cava MDL will continue to grow.

If you or a loved one have been injured by an IVC filter, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the makers of the device and recover compensation for your suffering.

The Cook IVC MDL is In Re: Cook Medical, Inc., IVC Filters Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2570 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.