A woman from Maine alleges she suffered serious device complications soon after having the Bard G2 filter implanted, which severely compounded her medical condition.

She alleges that C.R. Bard had failed to warn her and other patients against the potentially defective Bard G2 filter, which allegedly resulted in numerous injuries and some revision surgeries.

Plaintiff Irene H. says she had the Bard G2 filter implanted for typical treatment purposes on Dec. 20, 2007, and had no reason to suspect she could be in danger of potential device complications.

Like numerous other inferior vena cava (IVC) filter products on the market, the Bard G2 filter is supposed to help stop blood clots in patients who cannot be prescribed anticoagulant treatment.

IVC filters are small metal cage-like devices that are directly implanted in the inferior vena cava, which is the largest vein in the human body and a major component of the circulation system. These devices work by trapping blood clots forming in the legs or pelvis, and preventing them from traveling up into the heart and lungs.

However, recent injury reports suggest that long-term use of these devices can greatly increase the chances of IVC filter complications like device perforation and migration. This can greatly compound the patient’s medical condition and can make removing the IVC filter very difficult.

Irene is currently contending with her IVC filter related injuries and opted to file legal action after discovering other patients had experienced similar complications.

Overview of IVC Filter Complications

Over the years, the FDA has repeatedly warned the patient population and medical community against using IVC filters on a long-term basis and that they are just a temporary treatment measure.

The agency further encouraged physicians to remove the device as soon as the blood clot risk is resolved. The FDA issued these warnings in 2010, after receiving 921 injury reports consisting of IVC filter injuries related to long-term use of the device:

• 328 reports of IVC Filter Migration
• 146 reports of IVC Filter Detachment
• 70 reports of IVC Filter Perforation
• 56 reports of IVC Filter Fracture

The agency had been receiving these reports since 2005 and had issued the warning in 2010. The FDA released an updated warning May 2014, stating the retrievable IVC filters should generally be removed between 29 to 54 days after implantation.

Even though IVC filter complications can greatly compound a patient’s health condition, Bard and other manufacturers allegedly failed to warn against them, plaintiffs claim.

At all times relevant, Irene states that she relied on the marketing statements and product information provided by Bard when she chose to use the Bard G2 filter. Irene states she would not have agreed to have the IVC filter implanted, had she known of its allegedly defective nature.

Irene’s IVC filter lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2641, where it will stand alongside other claims from patients who allegedly sustained injuries from the Bard G2 filter. Irene is seeking a multitude of damages in her IVC filter lawsuit, including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Bard G2 Filter Lawsuit is case 2:18-cv-03473-DGC, in the U.S. District Court of Arizona.