IVC filter injury lawsuits continue to be filed in courts across the nation.

IVC (inferior vena cava) filters are small cage-like devices that are implanted in the inferior vena cava vein right below the kidneys.

These filters are made to capture a blood clot that might break away from a deep vein in the leg before the clot can reach the lungs.

Why Implant an IVC Filter?

When patients incur serious injuries or endure surgery, they are at a higher risk for a blood clot.

Oftentimes, doctors will prescribe anticoagulants, commonly called blood thinners, so that blood clots cannot form as easily in the patient’s body. For people who cannot tolerate such drugs, surgeons implant an IVC filter.

When a blood clot forms deep inside the pelvis or legs, it is called deep venous thrombosis (DVTs). If a blood clot stayed in the pelvis or legs, it would not be considered life-threatening.

However, with the normal blood flow, a blood clot can be carried to the lungs where the clot can restrict blood flow.

Upon causing impairment to the lung’s blood flow, the clot is called a pulmonary embolism (PE).

Nearly 300,000 hospital patients die of pulmonary embolisms each year, which is a reason the IVC filters were such a welcomed medical device when they were introduced in 1979.

IVC filter injury lawsuits

IVC filter injury lawsuits
are piling up because of complications from these devices.

Made of thin wires designed to capture blood clots, IVC filters have been known to break apart. When the pieces travel in the body, they can tear veins and puncture organs. There have been reports of broken IVC filter parts even puncturing the heart.

If a part from an IVC filter lodges in an organ, a surgeon might elect to leave the part in place rather than risk surgery.

In at least one instance, an IVC filter was unable to stop a blood clot. The force of the blood clot being pushed by the person’s pumping blood allowed the filter to be pushed along as well, finally puncturing the heart. The 55-year-old woman died a week after she received the IVC filter.

Focus on Certain Brands

A few IVC filters seem to be particularly troublesome and top the list of IVC filter injury lawsuits.

The Recovery filter by C.R. Bard allegedly has been linked to 27 deaths and 300 other non-fatal issues. One study showed the failure rate of 25 percent, meaning the filter cracked or broke apart one-fourth of the time.

The company even hired an outside consultant who determined the Recovery filter had higher risks of death, filter breakage and movement than all of its competitors. Bard continued to sell nearly 34,000 more of the Recovery filters over the following three years.

Cook Medical sold the Gunther Tulip and Celect IVC filters, both of which were shown to perforate the vena cava wall oftentimes within 71 days of implantation. Forty percent of patients experienced the filters migrating to other areas.

IVC Filter Injury Lawsuits Abound

If you or someone you know has been implanted with an IVC filter that has broken or migrated, you could be eligible for compensation through a class action lawsuit.