What is an IVC filter?
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are small wire-framed devices implanted in the inferior vena cava vein to stop blood clots from going up into the heart and lungs. The inferior vena cava is a large vein in the middle of your body that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body into the heart. The filters, which were designed to be permanent implants, are commonly placed in patients with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who are at risk for pulmonary embolism.
What is deep vein thrombosis?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a medical condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. These clots typically develop in the leg, thigh or pelvis but can occur in other parts of the body as well. DVT can happen to anybody and can cause serious illness, disability, and in some cases death – though it is preventable and treatable if discovered early.
DVT becomes serious when a part of the blood clot breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage called a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism can cause severe shortness of breath and even sudden death. An IVC filter is one method to help prevent pulmonary embolism.
About the case
The FDA issued a safety communication to the public in August, 2010 expressing concerns over a growing number of device adverse event reports involving IVC filters. According to the FDA, since 2005 the agency had received 921 such reports, of which 328 involved device migration, 146 involved detachment of device components, 70 involved perforation of the IVC, and 56 involved filter fracture.
Other adverse events and problems associated with IVC filters include:
- Infection
- Excess bleeding
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to the blood vessel at the insertion site
- Blockage of blood flow through the vena cava
- Problem with placement or removal of the filter
- Thrombosis
- Chest pain
- Death
As a result of these complications, hundreds of patients began filing lawsuits against several IVC filter manufacturers, alleging the filters were defective and the companies failed to recall and warn medical patients about the risks. Lawsuits against Bard and Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc. were consolidated in Arizona District Court in August 2015 – combining over 3,000 filter suits into a single multi-district litigation (MDL).
In the first bellwether trial of the MDL, a federal jury awarded $3.6 million in damages to a woman who was injured when a filter manufactured by C.R. Bard broke apart in her body in 2009. The woman, who was 37 at the time, had to undergo open heart surgery to remove the broken pieces of the filter.
Do you have an IVC filter lawsuit?
If you or a loved one suffered serious side effects or complications caused by an IVC filter, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit against C.R. Bard, the manufacturer of the device.
Fill out the intake form on this page for a free and no-obligation review of your case. Constant Legal Group is here to help – we’d be honored to speak with you.
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