For some patients who cannot tolerate oral blood thinning medications, IVC filters may be the only option to save them from a life-threatening blood clot.

However, any individual who has an IVC filter placed must be aware of the potential IVC filter dangers that are associated with the use of the medical device.

What is an IVC Filter?

IVC filters are medical devices that are surgically placed in patients in the vein called the inferior vena cava, a large blood vessel that carries blood from the bottom portion of the body back to the heart. The device itself looks like a spider, with leg-like projections that attach to a body.

Doctors place these medical devices in patients to essentially “catch” any blood clots that may have formed in the lower part of the body and that may be carried to the heart.

In many cases, patients are given oral blood thinning medications to prevent clot formation. However, not all people can tolerate oral blood thinner medications. Additionally, if a patient has other medical reasons that necessitate the use of an IVC filter, it may be used as an alternative.

Potential candidates for IVC filters include:

• Patients who are at risk for deep venous thrombosis, or blood clots that form in the deep veins of the legs
• Those at risk of pulmonary embolism (where the blood clot travels to the lung)
• Individuals who have a history of strokes and those who are undergoing major surgery, such as for hip replacement or knee replacement

IVC Filter Dangers

A number of complications can arise from the use of IVC filters. These possible IVC dangers can be very severe and possibly deadly. IVC filters can cause problems in the following ways:

• Filter fracture, often from a leg of the filter breaking off from the main body of the device. The broken-off part can move throughout the body and cause problems in other bodily locations.
• Filter dislodging can cause the whole device to travel to another location in the person’s body.
• Filter tilting may render the device less effective or completely useless depending on the degree of the tilt.
• Filter perforation of organs and body structures may result, and commonly the aorta and duodenum are targets of perforation by IVC filters.

Some of these IVC filter dangers may be lessened if the device is retrieved as soon as the risk of blood clot has passed. For some patients, leaving the device in longer than necessary has led to avoidable complications.

Filing a Lawsuit over IVC Filter Dangers

If you or a loved one has experienced IVC filter complications that have caused personal injury, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer to recover damages. Plaintiffs who filed product liability lawsuits may be eligible to recover costs related to medical expenses, mental and physical pain and suffering, loss of spousal companionship and more.

An attorney experienced with litigation over IVC filter dangers can review your case for free and can help you decide if pursuing legal action is right for you.