An IVC filter is a wire that is inserted into the inferior vena cava to prevent blood clots from entering the heart, lungs, kidneys or brain by catching the clots in the bloodstream and allowing them to break down over time.
An ongoing IVC filter class-action lawsuit claims the makers of IVC filters were negligent in the design of these devices, and that they are failing at a high rate. Patients are experiencing bleeding, organ damage, and chronic pain.
If you or someone you know has been injured or harmed by an IVC filter, you or another individual may be entitled to compensation. Request a free consultant with experienced attorney using the button below as soon as possible.
What is an IVC filter?
The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a large vein in the middle of the abdomen. The IVC returns blood from your lower body to your heart.
IVC filters are like spider-like baskets that are made of many wires. The filter can be inserted into the IVC through a small hole in a vein in the neck or the groin. Filter placement can be done as an outpatient procedure.
IVC problems, Side Effects & Injuries
There have been numerous reports of the IVC filters falling out of place or breaking apart. Pieces of the device can then move through the blood, working their way through a vein wall and puncturing an internal organ.
There are also reports of blood clots occurring at the location where the device was inserted. This is exactly the kind of clotting the device is supposed to prevent.
Below are some of the more frequent injuries experienced when IVC filter parts reach the heart or lungs. If you believe your IVC filter might have failed, you should seek a free case evaluation immediately.
- Chest Pain
- Death
- Confusion
- Hemorrhage (severe bleeding)
- Heart Rhythm Problems
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Hypotension
- Stroke
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Neck Pain
- Shortness of Breath
- Internal Bleeding
IVC Filter Lawsuits
The key legal issue for IVC Filter litigation are reports that these devices are breaking inside patients, and metal parts are moving through the body; damaging the heart, lungs and causing internal bleeding.
The lawsuits involving the IVC Filter state the manufacturers of the device failed to warn patients and physicians of the increased risks of the filter breaking, and metal fragments moving through the blood, potentially damaging an organ.
Attorneys argue that C.R. Bard (the manufacturer) hid the results of its own research which found the filter dangerous, and even forged an employee's signature on an FDA application in order to get approval.
Getting compensation in an IVC Filter lawsuit
If you or someone you know has sustained injuries because of an IVC Filter, an experienced attorney will be seek the following damages for you:
- Past and future medical expenses that result from any injuries caused by the IVC filter.
- Past and future pain and suffering (physical and mental) caused by the injuries, and the treatment and recovery process.
- Past and future wage loss, if any.
- Past and future loss of capacity to earn money.
- Past and future loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages, if appropriate.
As of July 2018, more than 8,400 lawsuits were pending in federal court against the manufacturers of IVC Filters by individuals who claim to have experienced various injuries.
Get a free IVC Filter Case Evaluation
Request an evaluation by clicking the button below. Upon submitting the form on the following page, it will be immediately reviewed by one of our attorneys handling the IVC Filter litigation.
Stangl Law Offices, S.C.