Have you suffered an IVC filter injury? Since inferior vena cava (IVC) filters were approved for the public in 2003, research has revealed that one in four IVC filters will splinter, sending deadly metal shards into a patients’ heart or lungs.
IVC filters were designed to prevent blood clots such as a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis. Their use was to be on a temporary basis. Evidence has shown the longer an IVC filter remains within the body, the higher the likelihood of fracture.
FDA Recall for IVC Filters
On August 9, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication that warned of the potentially fatal complications associated with inferior vena cava filters, such as splintering of the IVC filter.
Long-term use is associated with the IVC filter potentially:
- Moving
- Splintering
- Lodging in and obstructing an artery
- Piercing tissue
Any of these actions may result in a blood clot or damage to the heart or lungs, potentially causing death.
Study Reveals IVC Filter Complications
A study conducted in York Hospital found that patients who were implanted with the Bard Recovery or Brad G2 IVC experienced a 25% chance of experiencing a filter fracture.
Furthermore, 86% of the fractured filters sent potentially lethal shards to the patients’ heart or lungs.
The FDA suggests that doctors remove the IVC filters as soon as the patient is no longer in danger of suffering a pulmonary embolism. In addition, if you received the IVC filter and it has not yet been removed, we suggest you contact your doctors to ensure that the device should still be in place. Your doctor must remove the IVC filter as soon as the likelihood of pulmonary embolism passes so that you are not at risk for complications.
Did You Suffer an IVC Filter Injury?
If you have suffered an IVC filter injury or if you have lost a family member to injury that may have been caused by an IVC filter, we will help you get the compensation you deserve. The attorneys of The Oshman Firm are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who suffer an IVC filter injury, and that means fighting for compensation to cover your:
- Medical bills
- Future treatment
- Lost income
- Funeral expenses
- Cost of counseling
- Physical and emotional suffering
What Does the IVC Filter Do?
IVC filters are implanted into a large vein called the inferior vena cava to prevent pulmonary embolisms (blood clots that reach the lungs). The IVC filter works by trapping blood clot fragments and preventing them from traveling to the heart and lungs, where they could cause serious damage or death.
IVC filter manufacturer Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. began marketing the devices in the 1960s. These retrievable filters were never meant to be permanent devices; instead, they were originally intended for temporary use until the risk of pulmonary embolism subsided.
More recently, Bard petitioned the FDA to approve the IVC filter for permanent use, even though Bard’s research allegedly pointed to risks associated with long-term use of the filters. Instead of telling the FDA about these dangers, Bard continued to sell the deadly IVC filter without warning doctors or patients of the risks associated with long-term use.
What Are Your Legal Options?
If you or a loved one has suffered an IVC filter injury, contact our law firm today to understand your legal right. Time is limited. We are glad to answer your questions, please call 800-400-8182 and talk to one of our lawyers for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.