Texas Man Files Günther Tulip IVC Filter LawsuitIVC filters are medical implants that catch blood clots before they get into the lungs. Over 8,000 lawsuits have been filed by people who were injured by IVC filters that broke, moved, perforated internal organs, or caused other serious complications.

Need an IVC Filter Lawyer in Texas? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans. If you or a loved one has an IVC filter implant, even if you were not injured by side effects, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Wisconsin Jury Awards $3.3 Million in IVC Filter Lawsuit

In June 2021, a jury in Wisconsin awarded $3.3 million to Natalie J., a woman who needed surgery when her Bard Meridian® IVC Filter broke into pieces, and the pieces traveled to her heart.

Texas Jury Awards $2.5 Million in IVC Filter Lawsuit

In May 2021, a jury in Dallas, Texas, awarded $2.5 million to a woman who needed surgery when her Bard IVC Filter broke into pieces, and the pieces traveled to her heart and lungs.

Oregon Jury Awards $926,000 in IVC Filter Lawsuit

In May 2021, a jury in Portland, Oregon, awarded $926,000 to a man who needed emergency surgery when his Bard Eclipse® IVC Filter punctured his vein and intestines, causing severe internal bleeding.

$3.6 Million Awarded in IVC Filter Trial

April 2018 — C.R. Bard has been ordered to pay $3.6 million to a woman who needed open-heart surgery when her IVC Filter tilted, migrated, fractured, and broken pieces punctured through her veins and traveled to her heart. Click here to read more.

NBC News Investigates IVC Filters

In September 2015, an investigation by NBC News has linked C.R. Bard’s Recovery IVC filter with 27 deaths and 300 injuries from 2003-2005 raising safety concerns. Investigators also questioned whether a forged signature was used to gain approval.

In a follow-up investigation, NBC News said C.R. Bard was concerned about the safety of the G2 filter within 4 months of its approval, but continued to sell 160,000 of the devices over the next 5 years. At least 12 deaths and hundreds of problems are now linked to the G2 series filters.

What is an IVC Filter?

IVC filters, also known as blood clot filters or vena cava filters, are cage-like metal devices that are implanted in a major blood vessel to catch blood clots. They are implanted in the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is a vein that carries “used” blood from the body to the lungs to receive oxygen. IVC filters prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism.

C.R. Bard IVC Filters

FDA Reports Nearly 1,000 IVC Filter Injuries

Between 2005 and 2010, the FDA received 921 reports of severe injuries caused by IVC filters. The agency was concerned that temporary filters were not being removed in a timely manner, which was contributing to high rates of migration, fracture, and failure of the device. The agency reported hundreds of injuries and warned C.R. Bard for mis-classifying serious injuries and deaths as “device malfunctions.”

IVC Filter Implantation & Removal Guidelines

Health Canada has asked hospitals to identify patients who were implanted with an IVC filter and make plans to remove the filter. In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has made similar recommendations. They also say filters should only be implanted in patients who cannot take a blood-thinner, and only if the patient has been diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or a Pulmonary Embolism (PE).

Health Canada IVC Filter Warnings

In 2015, Health Canada issued warnings about the following serious side effects:

Most Serious Complications of IVC Filters

  • The filter may shift in position after it is implanted. This could cause problems because it may not catch blood clots, or it could damage internal organs.
  • The filter can erode into the inferior vena cava, ultimately leading to perforation of the inferior vena cava
  • Pieces of the filter could fracture and travel into the heart or lungs. They could cause severe damage to these internal organs.
  • Large numbers of blood clots could clog the device, impeding blood flow
  • The filter may become so embedded that a doctor will be unable to remove it
  • Increased risk of blood clots in the legs (thrombosis), which often damage veins and valves, leaving patients with chronic pain and circulation problems in the legs.

C.R. Bard MDL

In 2015, federal judges centralized IVC filer lawsuits against C.R. Bard into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2641) in the U.S. District Court for Arizona under Judge David G. Campbell. By the end of 2015, approximately 50 lawsuits were pending. Over 1,100 lawsuits were pending by the end of 2016. C.R. Bard is also facing a class action lawsuit on behalf of everyone who was implanted with their IVC filters.

Cook IVC Filter MDL

In 2014, dozens of lawsuits against Cook Medical were centralized into the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, in Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2570). By mid-2015, around 100 lawsuits were filed against Cook Medical. By the end of 2016, the number of lawsuits skyrocketed to 1,100 cases. The first “bellwether” trial in the Cook MDL is scheduled for 2017.

IVC Filter Lawsuit Settlements

In February 2015, after 6 days of trial, C.R. Bard reached a settlement with a man who had to have open heart surgery after his Recovery IVC filter broke. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed publicly.

C.R. Bard IVC Filter Lawsuits

Some of the first lawsuits against C.R. Bard were filed in 2013. In one lawsuit, a woman from Illinois required emergency open-heart surgery after her G2 filter broke. In a similar lawsuit, a man nearly died when his Recovery filter broke and migrated to his heart. In one case report, a woman experienced severe complications when a Bard G2 IVC filter was left in her body for more than six years.

Experts Question IVC Filter Risks vs. Benefits

Experts debating the risk-benefit profile of IVC filters have raised serious concerns about over-hyped and under-studied devices, warning that they “eventually became a crutch … providing a false sense of security” with little evidence of efficacy. These conclusions are backed up by many studies and thousands of injuries.

Studies Show No Reduced Risk of Death

In 2012, a study found that IVC filters did not reduce the risk of death for most people. In September 2016, a study found that filters did not reduce the risk of death for trauma patients, and only 8% were ever removed. Another study found that trauma patients who were implanted with an IVC filter were 83% more likely to develop Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Cook Filters and Vena Cava Perforation

In 2015, a study of 99 patients found that 43% of Cook Celect filters perforated the vena cava within 2 months and 9% had “significant tilting,” compared to 0% of 86 patients with the Rex Option ELITE filter.

In 2013, a study of 255 patients with the Celect found that 126 (46%) perforated the vena cava within 9 months, on average. In comparison, only 2% of Greenfield filters caused a perforation in the same time.

In 2012, a study of 50 patients with the Celect found that 43 (86%) had a perforation through the vena cava within 2.5 years. Furthermore, all of the filters showed “some degree” of perforation within 71 days, often as a progressive process. The longer it remains implanted, the higher the risk of perforation.

The problem is not limited to the Celect. In 2013, a study of 160 patients with the Cook Günther Tulip found that 69 (43%) perforated the vena cava after an average of 14 months.

High Risks, Low Chance of Effectiveness

Patients at risk of a blood clots might not benefit if they are implanted with an IVC filter instead of taking a blood-thinner alone, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). In 2013, JAMA published an editorial titled “How could a medical device be so well accepted without any evidence of efficacy?” and another study that recommended against using IVC filters due to the low retrieval rate and high risk of blood clots.

Additional Information & Resources

IVC Filter Lawsuit Information

Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has an IVC Filter, our lawyers would like to speak with you immediately. We are evaluating every case regardless of whether you experienced side effects or not. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit. Please use the form below to contact our lawyers or call us toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 879-3040.

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Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

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