The IVC filter is a wire device that is placed against the walls of the inferior vena cava. Any one of the metal extremities on the device can fracture and be carried away by the blood stream, finding its way to the heart or lungs.
What is an IVC Filter?
IVC Filters; such as the Bard Recovery filter, Bard G2 filter, and the Bard G2 Express filter, are implanted into the inferior vena cava to limit where blood clots can travel in the body. The Bard IVC Filters were designed to prevent blood clots from forming, preventing stroke and other life-threatening events.
What You Should Know
A number of studies show that shards can break from the filter and may be just as deadly as a stroke. One study conducted by the New England Society for Vascular Surgery noted a 31% fracture rate in IVC filters. Most of the splinters found their way to patients’ right ventricles of the heart. Another study conducted by Dr. Nicholson of York Hospital, showed that 25% of the group had splinters that broke off, most of which migrated to an end organ, such as the heart, lungs and the hepatic vein.
Injuries Resulting from IVC Filters
The use of an IVC filter may cause the following problems:
- IVC Filter migration
- IVC Filter fracture
- IVC Filter perforation
- Tilting of the IVC Filter
- The inability to retrieve the IVC Filter
- Pulmonary embolism
- Compromised respiration
- Stroke
- Death
Free IVC Filter Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of the IVC Filter, you should contact The Falkowitz Law Firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a IV Filter lawsuit andwe can help.
