IVC JUSTICE

MORE INFORMATION ON IVC FILTER LAWSUITS

 

The Inferior Vena Cava is a vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower region of the body to vital organs such as the heart and lungs.  Inferior Vena Cava filters were developed in an effort to help prevent the formation of blood clots in the blood stream as well as to keep existing blood clots that have broken loose, called embolisms, from entering the heart and other vital organs.  Recent discoveries have shown that these IVC filters have failed to carry out their intended function and instead have been known to cause serious health issues to the patients in whom they have been implanted into.  Such health risks include, but are not limited to; deterioration of the filter within the implant site thus allowing metal fragments to travel throughout the body.  This can lead to the damage of other vital organs, Vena Cava thrombosis and perforations, and reoccurring deep vein thrombosis – which can lead to a pulmonary embolism.  In more severe cases, IVC filter injuries have even led to death.

A 2010 report published by the FDA, states that a total of 921 patients were living with an IVC Filter injury.  Of those 921 patients, 328 suffered device migrations, 70 experienced vena cava perforations, and 146 suffered from pulmonary embolism after the IVC filter broke into smaller pieces.  Most complications that led to an IVC Filter injury were the result of prolonged implantation of the metal filters inside the recipients.  Because manufacturers of these IVC filters failed to provide the correct information in regard to the health risks associated with the filters, patients and physicians were unaware of the multitude of damages that could occur.  The victims of their products deserve proper compensation for their IVC Filter Injury.

Coupled with the physical pain endured by the patients and the mental stress that comes with reoccurring visits to a care provider to help alleviate the pain brought on by what was believed to be a solution to another health issue is enough to demand an IVC Filter lawsuit.  The Law demands that justice is fairly dispensed to recipients of an IVC Filter injury and that their best interests are taken into account.

What are IVC Filters?

Developed in the early 2000s, IVC filters received the FDA’s approval in 2003 and have since been prescribed extensively throughout the country to patients prone to internal blood clotting. These 25mm long, web-shaped filters, made from platinum are surgically implanted into a patient’s vein(s) in an effort to lower the risk of blood clots.

IVC filters are not prescribed to every patient prone to blood clots. This method is most recommended to patients that are unable to take anti-clotting medicines. These filters are inserted into veins located in the lower region of the body, such as the legs and hips. However, the overwhelming number of reports of patients suffering an IVC Filter injury are most likely a result of the manufacturing companies not taking the correct steps to inform patients and physicians of the associated risks and ailments, which includes the IVC Filter becoming irremovable.  

Once it is implanted into the patient, an IVC filter is meant to capture blood clots that are traveling throughout the body,  in order to prevent them from making their way to the heart, lungs, brain and other vital body organs. Unfortunately, there are a staggering number of reports showing that the IVC filters have failed to perform their basic function, therefore causing an IVC Filter Injury. Instead, these filters have raised serious health concerns to those who have been prescribed with an IVC filter by their physician.  

Problems Associated with the Filters

One of the main causes of IVC Filter injuries is that the filters are prone to fracturing once implanted inside the patient leading to fragments of metal making their way throughout the body, away from their initial/intended implant location. The migration of these metal fragments to other parts of the body has made it increasingly difficult for physicians to go in and remove all remnants. A report published in 2015 suggests that most of the filters are simply left inside the patients because of the difficulty barred by medical professionals who try to go in and alleviate the pain of an IVC Filter injury which often ends in failure. Prolonged implantation of IVC filters can lead to organ damage, impairment, serious psychological trauma  and even death.

Broken remnants of an IVC filter can make their way to the heart and/or brain causing death.  Broken IVC filters can damage the walls of the veins they are inserted into. The drifting metal remnants filters can also get lodged at any random point inside your blood system, which will impede the flow of blood leading to blood clots.

In order to assure that these IVC filters are carrying out their basic functions, they need to be seen as a temporary measure and surgically removed when they have served their purpose. However undergoing these surgeries can be expensive that not everyone can so readily afford. Through IVC filter lawsuit settlements, victims can assure that these costs are taken up by the manufacturing companies.

Products Involved in regard to the IVC Filter Lawsuits

There are multiple manufacturers of these products aimed at stopping the formation blood clots. C.R. Bard and Cook Medical are among the leading corporations producing these low-quality implants. Other known defective brands include but not limited to:

Bard G2 Filter

This filter has multiple legs conjoined together at one end which bloom out the other. The far ends of the legs are twisted outwards to keep the implants intact. Unfortunately, due to a poor design and manufactured out of a low quality material, this type of filter has failed in bringing relief to the patients that have relied on it to combat their blood clot issues.

Bard G2 Express Filter

This is an improvised version of the Bard G2 Filter. It has an extended hook on one end where all the legs are conjoined. This product suffered the same fate as its predecessor due to crucial defects in design.

Cook Gunther Tulip Filter

The Tulip Filter comes with extensions at the tips of each leg which gives it a web-like appearance. It was  more efficient in capturing pulmonary embolisms, however, its lack of quality made it prone to structural defects.

Cook Celect Platinum Vena Cava Filter

This IVC filter is very similar to Bard G2 Express Filter in terms of design. The platinum legs meet at a vertex edged with a hook. The lower portions of the legs have markers – small extensions – created to help fasten it in place once inside the designated veins.

IVC Filters May Have Negative Effects on Your Health

The IVC Filter carries a number of health risks.  The filter may fracture and fragments may reach vital organs causing severe damage.  There are two types of effects studied on the human body:

• Patients may suffer from, including but not limited to; chest pain, heart rhythm problems, neck pain, and breathing problems.
• Patients may suffer from severe problems, including but not limited to; strokes and pulmonary embolisms.
• In certain cases, IVC Filters have caused death.

IVC Filter Complications

 

Who is Responsible for your IVC Filter Injury?

The damage done to your body from an IVC Filter can be life threatening.  Who is responsible for this damage? Here at IVC Justice we make it our sole priority to litigate on your behalf and hold the right entity responsible. That entity is the manufacturers of these IVC Filters. It is the sole responsibility of the manufacturing companies to right their wrongs and compensate you for your IVC Filter Injury. We fight your case for the damage done to you. Once we have reviewed your IVC Filter Injury and determine if you have a case, we file a lawsuit.  In this lawsuit, we work hard to ensure you the best possible outcome.  We fight to make sure the manufacturing companies pay you reparations for the IVC filter lawsuit.

The manufacturers need to inform patients and physicians of the health risks associated with the device by using the proper channels. An example would be by publishing studies of the risks and making sure that the FDA was informed of these risks and outcomes.  In the case of the IVC Filters, the manufacturers failed to point out the life threatening risks associated with them.  It has been claimed that the IVC Filter devices were defective.  It also has been reported that the manufacturers should have known or already knew there were problems.  However, because receiving profits were more important to the manufacturers they failed to disclose the horrifying risks these IVC filters impose.  

• Manufacturers did not issue warnings to physicians or patients about the prolonged presence of IVC Filters in one’s body.
• Manufacturers have been reported to deliberately hide or under report the information on IVC Filters to the FDA.

Reports claim that the tests made by the manufacturers were done on the patients who had taken anticlotting drugs.  However, the IVC Filter is used specifically for those who are not able to take anti-clotting medicine.  All of these points show how the manufacturers were deliberate in their actions and need to be held responsible for your IVC Filter injury.

What can you receive from an IVC Filter Lawsuit?

If your IVC Filter Injury qualifies, you may be able to file an IVC Filter Lawsuit in the Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”) Court.  

You may be able to get compensated for the following:

• Emotional distress: This IVC Filter may have the possibility of never being removed. This could cause severe emotional distress for a person and their loved ones, knowing that any day their IVC Filter injury could cause life-threatening harm.
• Physical Injuries: The fractured filter may have damaged your body and vital organs.  You should be compensated for this and any medical expenses you incurred as a result of the IVC Filter injury.

What are the IVC Filter Injury Statutes of Limitations?

Every state inside the United States has time restrictions and limitations for IVC Filter injuries.  If you fail to bring a IVC Filter lawsuit before this deadline, then you will not be able to hold the manufacturers responsible for your IVC Filter injury.  This time restriction is known as the statute of limitations.  You will not receive reparations for your IVC Filter injury if you fail to bring a timely IVC Filter lawsuit.

If you have been affected by an IVC filter injury, please contact the IVC Filter Lawyers located here at IVC Justice for a free consultation.  If you are unsure if you have an IVC Filter Injury, please visit your doctor right away, especially if you are experiencing pain.  With every day that passes, you may miss out on a chance to receive reparations for your IVC Filter Injury.

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