A Tennessee 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, other 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee IVC filter attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Are IVC Filters?
For those suffering from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a disorder where blood clots often form in the veins, the risk of developing a more serious condition like a pulmonary embolism (PE) is very high. A pulmonary embolism occurs when blood clots travel from veins, often in the legs, to the inferior vena cava, and then make their way to the lungs. Once there, a blockage forms, inhibiting blood flow to lung tissue, and in cases where there are a number of clots or the clots are significantly sized, death can occur.
Due to the severity of a pulmonary embolism, doctors will implement treatments such as anticoagulants. These are medications that work to reduce clots within the blood or break them apart. While such treatment is effective in many patients, others are unable to tolerate anticoagulant medications due to underlying medical conditions. IVC filters are then used as an alternative treatment in those patients.
IVC filters are placed through a small incision into a vein located in the groin or neck area, and then moved, via a catheter, to the inferior vena cava. The device, which resembles a small cone-like contraption, is designed to catch the clots within that vein, and prevent them from moving any further. While clots remain trapped, the natural flow of blood is unimpeded by the filter, and ideally, the trapped clots will be broken down over time.
Tennessee IVC Filter Lawsuit: Risks Associated With IVC Filters
There are a number of serious risks associated with IVC filter treatments. While not all patients experience the following complications, those who do often require extensive surgical intervention as a result:
- Device Migration – Migrating filters can be the cause of significant injury should they make their way to certain areas. For instance, filters that have migrated to areas within the heart are usually difficult to remove and can lead to emergency open heart surgery.
- Puncture/Perforation – IVC filters have also been known to puncture or pierce internal tissues, including the veins themselves or surrounding organs.
- Recurrence of DVT/PE – Use of IVC filters has even been linked to the recurrence of DVT/PE. Should filters fracture, device components can shift and make their way throughout the veins, thereby causing blockages. Intact filters can also result in recurrence should too many clots accumulate.
For some patients, complications can pose a serious health risk. According to a report published by the National Institutes of Health, an 83-year-old man suffered from perforation of the aorta after an IVC filter procedure. The patient required constant monitoring by medical professionals for up to 12 months after the perforation.
Attorneys are alleging serious injuries and other complications in Tennessee IVC filter lawsuits being filed on behalf of affected patients.
Other IVC Filter Risks
An alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 outlines the dangers posed by IVC filters. The FDA report cited 921 adverse events linked to the device. Migrating filters were the primary complication with 328 instances reported, while embolization featured in 146 reports. Additionally, 70 reports referenced perforation of the inferior vena cava, and 56 reports involved filter fractures.
These adverse events often require extensive surgical intervention, and can result in death in some cases. This has led to a number of patients filing lawsuits against IVC filter manufacturers, claiming that the safety of these devices has been misrepresented to both the general public as well as the medical community.
How a Tennessee 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 Tennessee IVC filter lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Tennessee. 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 Tennessee today.
