Patients who are at risk of developing blood clots, but who are not candidates for blood thinner medication, often have an inferior vena cava filter, or IVC filter, implanted, especially after major surgery.

However, IVC filters manufactured by C.R. Bard and Cook Medical may cause serious injuries.

What is a Vena Cava Filter?

The inferior vena cava is a major vein that carries blood from the lower body into the heart. An IVC filter is a small, cage-like or spider-like wire device inserted into this vein in patients who are at high risk of pulmonary embolism (a blockage in one of the arteries in the lungs).

The IVC filter’s purpose is to prevent blood clots from entering the heart, lungs or brain by catching the clots in the bloodstream and allowing them to break down over time. The filters often are used with patients who are not able to take anticoagulant medication (drugs that help prevent blood clots).

IVC Filter Lawsuits

There have been an increasing number of reported vena cava filter complications, specifically that the devices may fracture, move, puncture, and result in significant retrieval complications. Perforation (puncturing) of important organs (such as the heart and lungs) is frequent in cases where an IVC filter has broken, fractured, and/or migrated (moved). Retrieval of a vena cava filter is often unsuccessful, requiring multiple surgeries.

Many patients who experienced vena cava filter complications have opted to pursue legal action against the device makers.  Some recently filed IVC filter lawsuits allege that patients are at an increased risk of filters breaking and metal fragments moving through the blood, potentially causing serious and life-threatening complications.

Plaintiff Alec C., a Mississippi resident, was injured when the Bard Eclipse IVC filter that was implanted in him rotated out of place and perforated his inferior vena cava.  Due to the position of the device now, doctors are unable to perform surgery to remove the device.

Plaintiff Eugene B., a widow from Kansas, claims that her husband’s death during bariatric surgery was directly related to complications from the Bard Recovery IVC filter that was supposed to prevent clots during and after the surgery.  According to autopsy reports, the Bard IVC filter broke away and traveled directly to her husband’s heart, causing his untimely death.

In another recent IVC filter lawsuit, filed on Dec. 14 2015, a woman from New York alleges that her Bard G2 IVC filter migrated out of position and fractured, causing severe pain in her abdomen and lower back. She underwent a major operation to remove the broken filter, and may require additional surgical procedures in the future.

IVC Filter Litigation

More and more former recipients of IVC filters are coming forward with complaints of serious injuries from the implants and are filing legal claims against the makers of the allegedly defective medical devices, citing poor design and manufacturing as the reasons for their injuries.

All of these lawsuits filed over vena cava filter complications from the Cook Celect IVC filter have been centralized before U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana, and all Bard IVC filter complaints have been centralized before U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell in the U.S. District Court of Arizona.

It is expected that the selection of four Cook IVC Filter cases will begin in September 2016.  In regards to the Bard IVC Filter MDL, the status of establishing the process for bellwether trial selection is still pending.

MDL proceedings eliminate duplicative discovery and streamline proceedings to help identify strengths and weaknesses in the central argument and move toward a speedier resolution. After a series of bellwether trials, defendants may choose to make a large settlement offer or proceed with individual trials.

If you received an IVC filter implant and you have since suffered complications like device fracture, device migration, or injury to nearby organs, you may consider filing an IVC filter lawsuit.