Bard inferior vena cava (IVC) filters were first seen as a potentially life-saving innovation for people with a high risk of developing blood clots. Unfortunately, Bard IVC filters have been linked to dozens of deaths and hundreds of severe injuries and complications since they hit the market.
If you were injured or lost a loved one due to complications from one of these devices, you may be able to pursue compensation from the manufacturer through a defective medical device lawsuit. Medical device manufacturers have a legal obligation to design and produce safe products and provide adequate warnings to doctors and consumers about known risks. If they fail to do those things, they could be held liable for deaths and injuries that occur.
The Bard IVC filter injury lawyers at Roden Law can manage every aspect of your claim against the manufacturer, conducting a thorough investigation to collect evidence and build a strong case as we advocate for your best interests. We handle IVC filter lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, so your consultation is completely free and you will not be charged legal fees unless we recover compensation for your damages.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form right now to schedule a free consultation.
Complications from Bard IVC Filters
An IVC filter is a metal, spider-shaped device that is implanted in the inferior vena cava, a large vein that returns blood from the lower body to the heart. The device is designed to catch blood clots and prevent them from traveling to the heart and lungs, where they could cause pain and possibly death.
These devices are often implanted in patients who just had surgery but cannot take blood thinning medications to reduce their risk of life-threatening blood clots.
Doctors are supposed to remove IVC filters as soon as the patient’s risk of clots has gone back to normal. If these devices are left in the body for too long, there is a risk they will break apart and pieces of them will migrate to other parts of the body like the lungs, heart or brain, causing potentially life-threatening complications, such as:
- Hemorrhages
- Hematomas
- Cardiac tamponade
- Pericardial tamponade
- Infections at the surgical site
- Perforation of organs and blood vessels
- Ventricular tachycardia
- Bruising
Some of the common symptoms of complications from IVC filters include:
- Chronic, severe pain, particularly in the chest
- Trouble breathing
- Swelling in the legs, which could indicate the device is blocking blood flow
- Hyperpigmentation, where patches of skin are darker than surrounding skin
- Wounds on the legs, which could be ulcers caused by poor circulation
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately, as it could save your life. Doctors may also be able to prevent the IVC filter from doing more damage before it is removed from your body.
If doctors confirm that your symptoms were caused by an IVC filter, our experienced attorneys may be able to file an IVC filter lawsuit. Our class action attorneys have in-depth knowledge of what it takes to prove that the manufacturer is liable for your injuries.
Contact Roden Law today to talk to a Bard IVC filter injury lawyer. 1-844-RESULTS
FDA Warnings About IVC Filters
Since 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received hundreds of adverse event reports about IVC filters. These adverse events include:
- Breakage of the filters
- Perforation of internal tissue by a filter
- Device migration to other parts of the body
- Detachment of components of the filter
The FDA noted these types of adverse events in a drug safety communication issued in 2010. The communication asked doctors to weigh the benefits and risks of IVC filters before using these devices.
The communication also advised doctors to remove these devices from patients as soon as the risk of blood clots has gone down to a safe level. The communication said the FDA was concerned that this was not always happening, and patients were at greater risk of IVC filter complications.
The FDA issued another warning in 2015, this time in the form of a letter to C.R. Bard, Inc., noting that the company mishandled consumer complaints, including a report of a patient death.
The warning letter also noted that the company had been marketing one particular model of the IVC filter in the U.S. without clearance to do so and failed to inform the FDA of device malfunctions.
Schedule a free consultation with a Bard IVC filter injury attorney by filling out a Free Case Evaluation form.
Research on the Dangers of IVC Filters
Numerous studies have shown the potential dangers of IVC filters. This includes a study published in 2012 that found leaving these devices implanted for a long period of time often results in perforation of the vena cava.
The study, published in Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, reviewed medical records of 272 patients implanted with these devices between July 2007 and May 2009. Researchers found that 86 percent of the time, at least one component of a filter perforated the vena cava.
Another study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2013. Researchers studied 952 patients who were implanted with IVC filters between Aug. 2013 and Feb. 2011.
There were approximately 680 patients who were given retrievable IVC filters. However, doctors were only able to retrieve these devices from 58 patients. In three cases, doctors could not remove the filters because they had protruded through a blood vessel. There were also eight patients who were stuck with the filters because the devices were embedded and could not be retrieved.
These and other studies can help our Bard IVC filter injury lawyers prove that the manufacturer of your IVC filter created or manufactured an unsafe product. This could help us prove that the manufacturer is liable for your damages.
Contact Roden Law today to discuss an IVC filter lawsuit. Call 1-844-RESULTS.
IVC Filter Lawsuits
Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by victims and loved ones of those who were injured or killed by complications from Bard IVC filters. These lawsuits allege numerous things against Bard and its subsidiary companies, including:
- Design defects
- Manufacturing defects
- Breach of implied warranty
- Failure to warn doctors and consumers about the risks
- Negligence
In Aug. 2015, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) ordered all federal cases against C.R. Bard Inc. and Bard Peripheral Vascular to be consolidated. By November 2017, this MDL included more than 3,000 pending lawsuits.
While many of the cases in this MDL are still pending, some individual lawsuits that are not part of this MDL have been settled. In 2013, the lawyer for a victim announced a settlement of her 2011 lawsuit against Bard after an IVC filter broke and caused heart problems. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed.
In 2014, a settlement was reached in a lawsuit filed against Bard by a married couple. The wife claimed the device caused damage to her heart and lungs. The lawsuit claimed the company was negligent in the way it designed the filter and misrepresented the filter as safe. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
If you were injured or a lost a loved one because of complications from an IVC filter, you may be entitled to compensation through an IVC filter lawsuit. Contact one of our reputable attorneys for a free legal consultation.
Contact an IVC Filter Injury Lawyer Right Now
Have you suffered complications or lost a loved because of an IVC filter?
The manufacturer could be held liable for your injuries or your loved one’s death and made to pay compensation for medical expenses and other damages you suffered.
Contact a Bard IVC filter injury lawyer right now to learn more about your legal options. We have many years of combined experience pursuing compensation for injuries caused by negligence.
We offer a free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss your situation and allow us to determine if you may be entitled to compensation. If we take your case, you will not be charged for our services unless we recover fair compensation.