Hundreds of people have been injured when they were implanted with a defective vena cava filter that moved, broke, damaged internal organs, or needed to be removed surgically. Now, device-makers are facing a growing number of lawsuits from people who say they were not adequately warned about these risks.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently evaluating IVC filter cases in all 50 states, regardless of whether you have been injured or not. If you or somebody you know was implanted with an IVC filter, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is a Vena Cava Filter?
Vena cava filters are medical devices that are implanted in a patient’s inferior vena cava, which is the biggest blood vessel between the lower half of the body and the heart. The filters are designed with thin wire legs (called “struts”) designed to capture blood clots and prevent pulmonary embolisms.
C.R. Bard Vena Cava Filters
- Recovery IVC Filter (withdrawn in 2005)
- G2 IVC Filter
- G2 Express / G2X Filter
- Eclipse
- Meridian
- Denali
Cook Vena Cava Filters
Other Retrievable Vena Cava Filters
FDA Safety Warning for Vena Cava Filters
August 2010 — After receiving nearly 1,000 adverse event reports since 2005, the FDA has published a Safety Communication regarding safety risks associated with vena cava filters.
The FDA is concerned that the risk of complications may increase when temporary vena cava filters are left inside patients for a long period of time, after they are not at risk of a pulmonary embolism. In 2014, the FDA recommended retrieving the filters within 29-54 days, as long as the patient’s risk of pulmonary embolism subsided.
Long-Term Safety Risks of Vena Cava Filters
- Lower-limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Broken or fractured filter
- Filter migration (moving from its intended position)
- Embolization of filter fragments in the body
- Perforation of the inferior vena cava, heart, or lungs
- Pieces of broken filter may be impossible to remove
- Filter may become clogged with blood clots
- And more
Are Vena Cava Filters Safe?
A study published in the American Journal of Medicine in February 2012 called into question the effectiveness of most vena cava filters. The author of the study, Dr. Paul Stein, warned that mortality is not reduced for most patients who are implanted with the devices:
“It appears the vast majority of filters that are placed in patients with a pulmonary embolism may not reduce mortality. … Only a small percentage of patients suffering from a pulmonary embolism are in shock or in need of ventilation support, and therefore only a small proportion need a filter.”
Do I have an IVC Filter Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is evaluating IVC filter cases in all 50 states, regardless of whether you were injured or not. If you or someone you know received an IVC filter implant, please contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.
Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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