A Florida woman who underwent the procedure to implant an inferior vena cava filter is now filing a IVC filter lawsuit against Cook Medical claiming the device was harmful to her health.

IVC filters are small, cage-like medical devices that are implanted in the inferior vena cava. The inferior vena cava is the vein that returns blood to the heart from the lower portion of the body.

IVC filters are designed to prevent blood clots, called thrombi, from moving from a patient’s lower extremities to more important areas of the body like the heart or lungs. Often clots develop in the deep veins of the legs and are called “deep vein thrombosis.”

A clot in the lungs would cause many serious problems, but the most serious of these are pulmonary embolisms.

The blood clots that are trapped in the IVC filter eventually dissolve. Some of these devices are intended to be explanted when the patient no longer needs it, and some are designed to be permanent.

However, Yvonne is claiming that her IVC filter manufactured by Cook Medical caused her serious damages and is seeking to be compensated.

Woman Files IVC Filter Lawsuit

Yvonne was implanted with the Cook IVC filter and claims that she suffered numerous damages as a result.

In her IVC filter lawsuit, she accuses Cook Medical of breach of implied warranty and breach of express warranty. She also holds Cook Medical responsible for negligent failure to warn and claims the defendants knew about the defective devices.

The IVC filter lawsuit claims that the Cook IVC filters were defective, yet Cook continued to market the devices and failed to warn the public and the medical community about the dangers of the devices.

Yvonne claims she suffered permanent and continuous injuries, pain and suffering, disability and impairment. She says she has experienced emotional trauma, harm and injuries that will continue into the future.

According to the IVC filter lawsuit, Yvonne has lost the ability to live a normal life and her life will continue to be diminished as such in the future.

The IVC filter lawsuit states that Yvonne has lost earnings and will continue to do so in the future.

IVC Filter Complications

The FDA lists the following as possible IVC filter complications:

• IVC thrombosis
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Access site thrombosis
• Filter migration
• Caval penetration
• IVC filter fracture

In 2010, the FDA stated that in the previous five years they had received reports of nearly 1000 adverse events associated with IVC filters. Over 300 reports involved IVC filter migration, 146 involved the detachment of filter components, 70 involved perforation of the inferior vena cava and in 56, the IVC filter actually fractured. 

In May 2014, the FDA issued an update to its 2010 communication. They noted that once the patient’s risk for pulmonary embolism has passed, the IVC filter should be removed.

This IVC Filter Lawsuit is Case No. 8:16-cv-1406-T-17AEP in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.