Despite their popularity, inferior vena cava filters have been linked with a serious IVC filter migration risk that has given patients cause for concern.

Inferior Vena Cava Filters

Inferior vena cava filters are a type of blood clot device used to block blood clots from entering or forming in a patient’s lungs or heart. Clotting that affects these essential organs can cause serious and even fatal complications.

Another popular method of preventing blood clotting complications is anticoagulant medication, or a drug that that thins the blood. For some patients, anticoagulants are too dangerous, and they must choose an alternative like an IVC filter. Others simply prefer the IVC filter implantation option to taking a medication.

Dangerous blood clotting and its subsequent complications are a widespread problem, so many thousands of patients are implanted with blood clot filter implants each year, and even more are prescribed anticoagulants.

IVC filter side effects can be extremely harmful. Since around a quarter million of these devices are implanted each year, any significant IVC filter side effects may emerge as widespread harm. And indeed, a growing number of IVC filter patients are filing reports and products liability lawsuits over complications associated with these devices.

Hundreds of patients have reported serious complications from IVC filters over the last several years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports. Some patients who have suffered from IVC filter side effects have had to undergo removal of their blood clot filter in order to prevent further damage.

IVC Filter Complications

The IVC filter is placed in the largest vein, the inferior vena cava, to obstruct the path of blood clots moving toward sensitive organs. A device that is placed correctly and remains in place poses little risk to patients. However, a device that is defective or has been incorrectly placed may pose a serious risk that the device might migrate.

IVC filter migration risk is a serious concern. Device migration can pose a threat of breakage and perforation of organs or veins, leading to pain, bleeding, and other problems.

Blood clot filter patients who suffer from IVC filter side effects should seek medical attention to have their filter removed. In some more serious cases, blood clot filter removal may be too dangerous, as any movement could cause immediate serious damage.

IVC Filter Migration Risk Lawsuits

Many patients who have experienced serious inferior vena cava filter side effects such as perforation due to IVC filter migration risk have responded by filing legal claims against the manufacturers of their device.

Plaintiffs in these IVC filter lawsuits generally allege that the benefits of these devices are not worth the IVC filter migration risk. They often claim the manufacturers intentionally concealed the seriousness of side effects from consumers and the larger medical community.

These plaintiffs allege that device manufacturers failed to satisfy their responsibility to warn consumers and the medical community about the serious risks associated with their filter devices.

Filing an IVC filter lawsuit cannot repair the damage a patient suffers, but it can help compensate for financial losses from medical expenses and lost wages a patient may experience. If you or someone you know has been implanted with an IVC filter and suffered from inferior vena cava filter side effects, you may be able to file an IVC filter lawsuit.