A Nevada IVC filter lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications as a result of an IVC filter procedure. For patients at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, treatment using an IVC filter is quite common, but despite manufacturers’ claims that these devices are safe, some patients allege to have experienced very serious complications as a result of using IVC filters. While this procedure has proven successful in many instances, some patients have filed IVC filter lawsuits against the device makers.
If you or a loved one suffered complications after an IVC filter procedure, contact Attorney Group for Nevada 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 Nevada IVC filter lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Are IVC Filters?
IVC filters can be described as a basket-shaped device made up of several wire legs. The filters are inserted into the inferior vena cava, the large vein the runs from the lower body up towards the heart and lungs, through a tiny hole made in a vein in the groin or the neck. The shape and design of an IVC filter is meant to prevent blood clots from migrating from the legs or pelvis into the lungs. If a blood clot makes its way into this area of the body, a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism could result.
Some people are at a higher risk of developing life-threatening blood clots, such as those with a past history of pulmonary embolism, those with existing blood clots in the lower extremities and those who have a family history of clotting or other conditions that increase the likelihood of clots forming. Most of these at-risk patients are treated with blood-thinners, but when those types of medications are ineffective or cause adverse problems, an IVC filter is a common alternative treatment.
Nevada IVC Filter Lawsuit: Risks Associated With IVC Filters
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), shifting and migration are two of many adverse events associated with these devices. Another issue with faulty filters includes breakage, which allows pieces of wire splinters and shards to drift upward and lodge in the heart or lungs. When this occurs, a person is at high risk of serious injury or even death.
In February 2015, medical device manufacturer C.R. Bard, agreed to a settlement with a Nevada man who claimed that one of Bard’s IVC filters broke within his body, resulting in a perforated heart. The plaintiff was required to undergo open heart surgery and was hospitalized for an extended period of time.
Other IVC Filter Risks
Usually an IVC filter is more difficult to retrieve the longer it has been in place, and some removal procedures have been unsuccessful. Retrievable filters may be left in the vein based on a physician’s assessment of the risk factors for removal. The FDA warns that retrievable IVC filters have caused serious health issues for hundreds of patients since 2005. Experts believe that leaving the device in a vein after it is no longer needed can lead to a high risk of injury to the patient. Adverse events associated with the filters include the following:
- Perforation of the vein
- Filter damage
- Detached filter components
- Migration of the filter
These known risks are believed to be related to long term use of filters that should be removed once the threat from blood clots has been mitigated, the agency stated.
Attorneys are alleging serious injuries and other complications in Nevada IVC filter lawsuits being filed on behalf of affected patients.
How a Nevada 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 Nevada IVC filter lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Nevada. 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 Nevada today.
