The Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter is a device which is small and meant to catch any blood clots that may get dislodged from the body’s deep veins to travel to the lungs or heart. Unfortunately, the IVC filter can migrate within your body causing serious injuries. If you have had any issues with an IVC filter, you may want to learn more about filing IVC filter lawsuits. Our dangerous medical device lawyers are now offering free consultations to individuals who have been harmed as a result of problems with this device around the country.

What is an IVC Filter?

The IVC Filter is a small medical device implanted in your body to help prevent clots from traveling to your lungs or heart. Patients get IVC Filters, which are spider-like in appearance and design, when they are at risk for developing a pulmonary embolism, if they are not able to take anticoagulant medication, or if this type of medication has failed to improve their condition.  The main filters are manufactured by Cook and C.R. Bard. The Bard Recovery IVC Filter, Cook Celect, and Cook Gunther Tulip filters have been linked to significant medical issues.

Current IVC Filter Lawsuits

At this time, there have been more than 900 reports of adverse effects to the FDA, from people who had the IVC filter implants. A common complaint was that a piece of the device broke off and traveled through the person’s body. In fact, they appear to be especially prone to breaking. This poses a serious health risk, as it can cause embolism, bleeding, and severe discomfort.

Some of the most common issues include:

• Puncturing of the vena cava
• Perforation of the lungs or heart
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion (or blood that builds up around the heart)
• Cardiac tamponade (excessive fluid causing disruption to the heart)

All of these can be quite severe, and they may even lead to death if not noticed early on and caught by a doctor.

FDA Treatment of the IVC Filter Recall Request

If an IVC Filter is left inside the body for a significant amount of time, it can lead to serious problems, as listed above. However, instructions to remove the IVC Filter during a safe time period were not communicated properly in many instances by the manufacturers.  Doctors were not aware of the risk that was involved in keeping the IVC filters in for a longer period of time. Also, some of the products had faulty design problems that made the dangers even greater to patients.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to all doctors in August 2010 letting them know there are serious risks with implanting retrievable IVC Filters. The FDA found that the ideal time to remove them is between 29 and 54 days after they are implanted in the individual.

Researchers who looked into cases of IVC filter perforation and other issues requested a recall, just as the FDA has. There are many people who have been affected and are left with the burden of not being able to function and work, which is particularly difficult on families who have high medical bills due to these conditions. Filing a claim to seek compensation can be beneficial to people who feel overwhelmed and do not know what to do otherwise.

Call Greensboro Law Center to set up a free consultation with an IVC Filter attorney.