IVC Filters
Doctors have used Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters for years to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs, despite causing severe side effects. These side effects are a result of failures of doctors, advising, and product manufacturing and placement.
Some patients are diagnosed with a high risk of a blood clot. It is then the responsibility of the doctor to provide information about the best courses of action. When the doctor decides that an IVC filter is the best option, it is their responsibility to disclose all of the risks. Similarly, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to disclose the risks of the product to the doctor. If a patient gets an IVC filter without having received the proper information, the doctor or manufacturer can be held liable.
Potential Complications from Inferior Vena Cava Filters
Any surgery has risks, even relatively non-invasive procedures. This includes the insertion and removal of Inferior Vena Cava devices, as well as the risk involved in simply living with one inside you. There are many complications that are linked to IVC filters, including:
Malposition – the device was either placed in the wrong place or was placed in the wrong position.
Defective Filter Deployment– The IVC device is designed to expand once inside the vein, and failure to properly do so can cause problems.
Migration – IVC filters have the risk of moving through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, including to the heart and lungs, requiring further surgery for removal.
Thrombosis – Patients with IVC filters are at a higher risk for Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots in major veins.
Filter Fractures – IVC filters can fracture once inside the patient’s body and can migrate to the heart, lungs, and other places of the body.
Perforation – Due to the design of the IVC filter, perforation of the venal walls is not uncommon.
Infection – Infection can occur if the techniques used for insertion or removal are not strictly sterile.
IVC Filter Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an IVC filter complication, you may be entitled to compensation. We will investigate your condition and determine what you are owed for your pain, suffering, and losses. Contact Lamothe Law Firm today to learn about your options and discuss your case.
