Inferior vena cava filters, also known as IVC filters, are medical devices used to capture blood clots in susceptible individuals before the blood clot travels to locations in the body that can cause major damage or even death.

The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body. Its job is to carry deoxygenated blood from the lower body back up to the heart and then to the lungs where it becomes re-oxygenated.

In some people who are prone to developing blood clots, typical oral anticoagulant medications may not be suitable for their particular health condition, however IVC filters can fill the need for preventing a blood clot from traveling to a location where it can do damage.

Patients undergoing knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery are also at risk for developing blood clots.

These patients may receive IVC filters to prevent the blood clots from traveling to the heart or lungs.

How IVC Filters Work

An IVC filter looks like a small cage-like device with fingerlike projections. Its design is reminiscent of the metal projections of a scalp massager tool.

This small device is implanted within the inferior vena cava in a location just below the kidneys.

The cage-like structure of the device traps blood clots as they travel from the lower extremities back up to the heart and lungs. This prevents the clot from lodging itself and blocking the pulmonary artery.

These arteries, if blocked, can result in a pulmonary embolism (PE). Pulmonary embolisms can cause patients to have difficulty breathing, experience chest pain and can even be fatal.

With the IVC filters in place, patients’ blood flow is not impeded and can still travel around the clot that is trapped within the IVC filter.

Eventually, the natural anticoagulants present in the blood will break the trapped clot down as the blood continued to flow freely around the device.

Complications from the Placement of IVC Filters

While IVC filters can be life-saving for some patients, the complications that can sometimes arise from the use of these filters can cause serious injury and even death.

Several types of complications have repeatedly been reported after placement of IVC filters. These include:

• Filter Fracture– Often, when the filter fractures, pieces of the filter may dislodge and travel elsewhere in the body, causing damage in other locations.
• Filter Migration– The entire filter may dislodge from its location and move to a different part of the body, often causing blockages that lead to injury and possibly even death.
• Filter Tilting– The filter may tilt inside the vein to where it is no longer able to trap blood clots. This may make the filter less effective and can even render it completely useless.
• Punctured Organs– The aorta or duodenum may become punctured by IVC filters.

Filing a Lawsuit over Complications from IVC Filters

Lawsuits have been filed by the patients and surviving loved ones of patients who had complications arise from the use of IVC filters. These lawsuits claim that the IVC filters were defectively designed and manufactured and posed risks to patients that were not disclosed.

If you have sustained an injury following the placement of an IVC filter, you may be able to take legal action to recover damages.