An IVC filter is a surgically-implanted device placed in the inferior vena cava (IVC) — the largest vein in your body that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body back to the heart – to stop blood clots from entering the lungs without hampering normal blood flow. While many doctors choose to treat the risk of blood clots with blood thinners and statins, for many patients this is not an option, especially for patients that recently had surgery.

Surgeons can implant an IVC filter directly into a person’s IVC to stop blood clots from going up into the lungs, where they become a serious problem and could cause death. Unfortunately, IVC filters have a high rate of failure and can threaten a patient’s life as well.

An IVC filter lawyer could advise you of your rights if an IVC filter is responsible for your health problems. Once retained, your dedicated attorney could work to investigate the model of IVC filter you received, determine whether your health concerns resulted directly from its implantation, and pursue all available compensation from the manufacturers of these dangerous products.

Problems Involved with IVC Filters

Receiving an IVC filter as an implant may seem like an end to your blood clotting problems. When properly designed, and when they function perfectly, IVC filters can serve to capture dangerous blood clots that may cause heart attacks, strokes, or pulmonary embolisms, all of which are life-threatening events.

Unfortunately, many IVC filters contain key design flaws that leave them prone to failure in a variety of ways, including:

  • Perforation of the vena cava, heart, lungs, or other bodily tissue
  • Fracture of the IVC filter
  • Migration of the IVC filter – or broken parts of the filter – to the heart or lungs
  • Blockage of blood flow through the vena cava
  • Infections at the insertion site
  • Rejection of the IVC filter implant

The resulting defects and failures of IVC filters cause a multitude of serious health problems that you or a loved one may have experienced, including:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Allergic reactions
  • Pain in or damage to organs
  • Leg swelling
  • Infections
  • Death

These catastrophic side effects are well-documented in the medical and legal communities. Any person who suffers these injuries has the right to pursue compensation, which an IVC filter attorney could help with. Major manufacturers of IVC filters who may become the subject of a lawsuit include:

  • C.R. Bard
  • Cook Medical
  • Boston Scientific
  • B. Braun
  • ALN
  • Cordis
  • Rafael Medical
  • Volcano Corporation
  • Argon Medical
  • Rex Medical

An IVC Filter Attorney May Be Able to Help

IVCs may be prone to perforate, fracture, and/or migrate through the body. This can lead to very serious health consequences which may necessitate follow-up surgeries to remove the failed IVC filter and could possibly have fatal outcomes.

If you or a family member are one of the thousands of people who have suffered health problems because of an IVC filter, you may have a compensable lawsuit against the IVC filter manufacturer. An IVC filter lawyer could help to explain your legal rights – call today to learn more.

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