IVC filters are small medical devices that are implanted in the main blood vessel, the inferior vena cava, that runs from the lower half of the body to the heart. These wire, cage-shaped filters are designed to prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart or lungs and serve as an alternative to blood thinners or anticoagulants by capturing a blood clot as it travels through the vein. In some cases IVC filters are designed as permanent implants, however they can also be inserted temporarily.

Problems with IVC Filters

IVC filters are under increased scrutiny due to risks of fracture or failure, as well as malfunctions that may result in death or serious injuries requiring corrective surgeries. The FDA issued a safety alert warning that it has received 921 device adverse event reports involving IVC filters since 2005. This medical device has been shown to shift or turn their position, break and puncture veins and/or migrate to other parts of the body where they can cause harm. IVC filters, which are manufactured by C.R. Bard, Cook Medical and Cordis (Johnson & Johnson) was recalled in 2013, and have been linked to nearly 30 deaths and approximately 300 injuries from 2005 to 2015.

In some cases, recommendations that the device be removed from patients between 29 and 54 days after it has been implanted came too late for patients who suffered from complications. Patients who have had IVC filters implanted as a treatment for blood clots may be at risk of potentially fatal defects with the medical device. Long-term risks that are known to be associated with IVC filters include lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), filter fracture and/or migration, and filter embolization or IVC perforation.

If this has happened to you or a loved one, you should talk with us. To learn more about IVC filters, why they’re used, and some of the consequences they have caused, visit our Lawsuits Information and Complications page. More than 100 lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers C.R. Bard, Cook Medical and Cordis (Johnson & Johnson) seeking compensation for punctured veins or organs, fractured and life-threatening health issues.

If you or a loved one have suffered because of an IVC filter, or have been injured, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Recovery may include compensations for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of wages. To find out if you have a claim, please call Avram Blair & Associates, P.C. toll-free at (800) 679-3816 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation.