Have you been injured from faulty IVC filter implant?

Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters or commonly termed as the IVC filters or blood clot filters are prescribed for patients with the risk of developing life-threatening blood clots. Patients who cannot take anticoagulation medicine are prescribed with this implant procedure. Since 2010, it was considered to be a safe and effective alternative to the existing blood thinners. But soon there were complications associated with IVC filters.

Let's find out in details about the complications that can arise from IVC filter implant.

IVC Filter Migration

The retrievable blood clot filters are expected to be made from high-tech alloys. But given their flexibility, the devices have been reported to detach themselves from the intended location where a part of it or the entire filter migrates to a different part through the bloodstream. As understood, the struts can perforate the nerve walls or organs on its way. Palpitation, chest pain, unusual heart rates are some of the frequent signs of embolization. It can lead to conditions such as ventricular arrhythmia (rapid heart rhythms) is a potentially fatal medical emergency condition. The victims of such situation filed for blood clot filter lawsuit.

IVC Filter Thrombosis

Faulty IVC filters can form blood clots in itself which is medically categorized as a subtype of DVT and might result in painful swellings in thighs and legs, pulmonary embolism, lower back pain, inflammation and fever.

Organ perforation

There have been incidents where the nerve walls got perforated during the initial implant procedure. Similar risk persists while doing the removal surgery as well and can cause life risking situations such as sepsis, retroperitoneal hematoma, gastrointestinal bleeding and air embolism.

Did you know?

Approximately one thousand negative reports were filed to the FDA. Of the reports, there were:

• 6% reports on IVC filter fractures
• 5% reports about vena cava perforation
• 15% involving the case of IVC Filter embolization
• 35% regarding the defective filter migration

What is the major accusation against the device makers?

When it was released, the IVC filters were described to be a competent substitute for the blood thinners. What the manufacturing companies did not disclose was its potentially damaging side effects which actually led to the filing of blood clot filter lawsuit.

The blood clot filters have the struts which when not made from proper quality material breaks to cause organ perforation. The makers of these devices did not expose how dangerous the situation can be when the struts migrate and cause organ or nerve perforation. Thus, there have been reports stating internal bleeding leading to hemorrhage from defective IVC filter implant. They kept on misbranding and advertising the product safe even though there were negative reports about the devices. Last but not the least, they failed to do any proper clinical research about the product before releasing them into the market.

What are the attorneys fighting for?

The victims of the above sufferings can file for lawsuit demanding the compensation for all the costs for the ongoing and future medical bills.  The experienced attorneys help to fight with these manufacturing giants who already have their top notch attorneys employed to help them get out of any legal issues pertaining to the defective medical devices.

The medical device attorneys can investigate to find the required details in the medical records and the other necessary documents. They can help you determine whether or not the case qualifies for a financial compensation.

Whatever it is, do not keep silent if you are a victim of the faulty IVC filter. It always provides a sense of support when you think there are a thousand others who are fighting for similar issue to sue the device makers who put their commercial gain before the public health.