C.R. Bard is facing a new IVC filter injury lawsuit from a Tennessee man alleging serious complications. This man is filing his lawsuit in multidistrict litigation (MDL) No. 2641, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries from IVC filters.

Plaintiff Lawrence K. had the Denali Vena Cava Filter implanted for typical treatment purposes of IVC filters. These purposes included trapping and preventing blood clots formed in the legs or pelvis from traveling to the lungs or heart.

By doing this, the risk of heart attack and stroke are reduced and patients can live relatively uninterrupted lives. IVC filters are often prescribed to patients who cannot use anticoagulants, with patients having the option of opting for either permanent or retrievable models.

However, many patients have alleged the temporary IVC filters are defectively made and break apart inside the patient. Lawrence is one of the patients who allegedly experienced IVC filter injury, and has joined the MDL to seek compensation.

Overview of IVC Filter Complications

IVC (inferior vena cava) filters are small metal cage-like devices that are directly implanted into the inferior vena cava, which is the largest vein in the human body.

As mentioned before these devices are meant to prevent blood clots from causing heart attacks and strokes, by having the blood clots resolve themselves once trapped in the device. Temporary IVC filters can be later removed after the blood clots are no longer a risk, but numerous patients have alleged serious IVC filter injury after using these devices.

Patients have not only alleged the temporary IVC filters were defectively made, but that manufacturing companies failed to disclose this information to the public and medical community. IVC filter injury reports indicated serious complications including:

• Device perforation or migration
• Puncturing the heart, lung, vena cava or other tissue
• Device fracture
• Device embolism (device components detaching)
• Chronic chest pain or shortness of breath

The FDA released an official warning in August 2010, after receiving over 900 reports of IVC filter injury. According to the agency, the FDA received over 921 IVC filter injury reports from 2005 to August 2010 including:

• 328 reports of IVC Filter Migration
• 146 reports of IVC Filter Embolism or Detachment of IVC filter Components
• 70 reports of Inferior Vena Cava Perforation
• 56 reports of IVC Filter Fractures

Based on the reports, the FDA assessed that temporary IVC filters were likely to break and cause patient injury if they stayed in the patient for long durations of time.

The agency released an updated warning in May 2014, with the FDA stating that temporary IVC filters should be removed soon after the blood clots are resolved.

Even though this information is vital for patient safety, C.R. Bard failed to disclose this information to Lawrence and other patients. Many patients state that they never would have used the temporary IVC filters if they had known of possible IVC filter injury.

This IVC Filter Injury Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-00423-DG in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.