A Kansas IVC filter lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications as a result of an IVC filter procedure. Though the purpose of IVC filters is to prevent dangerous blood clots from making their way to the heart and lungs, many patients undergoing these treatments have experienced serious side effects and complications. While this procedure has proven successful in many instances, some patients have filed IVC filter lawsuits against the device makers alleging injuries associated with the IVC filters.
If you or a loved one suffered complications after an IVC filter procedure, contact Attorney Group for Kansas to learn more. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions and inform you of your options. If you choose to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated Kansas IVC filter attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Are IVC Filters?
The inferior vena cava is one of the largest veins in the body. Its specific function is to return deoxygenated blood from the lower extremities back to the heart and lungs for re-oxygenation. An IVC filter is placed within the vein, often near the kidneys, in an attempt to catch any possible blood clots that could dislodge from a patient’s lower body and travel to the lungs. Using a catheter and x-ray imaging, a physician guides the metal, basket-like filter into place.
Typically, IVC filters are used for patients who have suffered from, or are at risk of, a venous thromboembolism (VTE) or a deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Physicians typically begin treatment for recurring or growing blood clots by prescribing blood-thinning medications. If the patient does not tolerate the medication well, or if the medication is not effective, an IVC filter is often the next step in treatment.
According to the Journal of American Medication, a study on the effectiveness of IVC filters performed in 1998, found that there was very little improvement of symptoms in only two years, but after eight years the reduction in symptoms was slightly more significant. This evidence has been used by manufacturers to support the insertion of IVC filters, despite the growing reports of alleged injury due to long-term use.
Kansas IVC Filter Lawsuit: Risks Associated With IVC Filters
In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that retrievable filters be removed once the risks for VTE or DVT subsided. According to the safety alert, leaving the filters in too long can increase the risk of complications, including migration, fracture or perforation. In some cases, one or more of the wire legs that make up an IVC filter can break off, resulting in a punctured lung, heart, vein or other internal organ. A filter may also imbed itself into the inferior vena cava or other location in the body, making it impossible to remove.
Patients of IVC filter complications report many of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Severe headache
- Elevated heart rate
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms can vary depending on the specific case and location of the device or its parts.
Attorneys are alleging serious injuries and other complications, and a Kansas IVC filter lawsuit may be filed on behalf of affected patients.
Other IVC Filter Risks
In an article reported in The Washington Post, a woman described the suffering she endured that was allegedly caused by an IVC filter. After an ectopic pregnancy, the woman had an IVC filter inserted to prevent a pulmonary embolism caused by the blood clots that had formed in her lungs and abdomen. After several years of recurring and debilitating back pain, an orthopedist discovered a bone spur on her spine, next to where a broken leg of the filter had caused friction against the vertebra. After a 20-minute procedure to remove the IVC filter, the woman reported that her pain diminished entirely.
In many similar lawsuits, injured patients are seeking compensation from the device makers who have allegedly ignored or misreported the risks associated with IVC filters. One manufacturer, C.R. Bard, began receiving reports of injuries beginning in 2004, but the public was not informed of these potential problems until 2010 when the FDA issued a Bard IVC filter warning following more than 900 adverse event reports. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in Kansas and across the country against C.R. Bard and other IVC filter manufacturers.
How a Kansas IVC Filter Lawsuit Can Help
Medical device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their devices, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
If a patient dies from complications related to a defective IVC Filter, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one.
Patients who have suffered severe complications from IVC filters, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the device, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Kansas IVC filter lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Kansas today.
