Research has revealed that one in four IVC filters will splinter, sending deadly shards to patients’ hearts, lungs and veins.

FDA Recall

Aug. 9, 2010: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication that warned of the potentially fatal complications associated with Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters. The devices are designed for temporary placement to prevent pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs); however doctors do not always remove these retrievable IVC filters once the potential for PE passes. Long-term use is associated with the IVC filter potentially:

• Moving
• Splintering
• Lodging in and obstructing an artery
• Piercing tissue

Any of these actions may result in a blood clot or damage to the heart or lungs, potentially causing death.

Study Reveals IVC Filter Complications

A study conducted in York Hospital found that patients who were implanted with the Bard Recovery or Brad G2 IVC experienced a 25% chance of experiencing a filter fracture. Furthermore, 86% of the fractured filters sent potentially lethal shards to the patients’ heart or lungs.

Recommendation for IVC Patients

The FDA suggests that doctors remove the IVC filters as soon as the patient is no longer in danger of suffering a PE. In addition, if you received the IVC filter and it has not yet been removed, we suggest you contact your doctors to ensure that the device should still be in place. Your doctor must remove the IVC filter as soon as the likelihood of PE passes so that you are not at risk for deadly complications.

Did an IVC Filter Damage Your Health?

If you have suffered an IVC filter health issue or if you have lost a family member to injury that may have been caused by an IVC filter, we will help you get the compensation you deserve. The attorneys of Oshman & Mirisola are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who suffer an IVC filter injury, and that means fighting for compensation to cover your:

• Medical bills
• Future treatment
• Lost income
• Funeral expenses
• Cost of counseling
• Physical and emotional suffering

What Does the IVC Filter Do?

IVC filters are implanted into a large vein called the inferior vena cava to prevent pulmonary embolisms (blood clots that reach the lungs). The IVC filter works by trapping blood clot fragments and preventing them from traveling to the heart and lungs, where they could cause serious damage or death.

IVC filter manufacturer Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc. began marketing the devices in the 1960s. These retrievable filters were never meant to be permanent devices; instead, they were originally intended for temporary use until the risk of pulmonary embolism subsided.

More recently, Bard petitioned the FDA to approve the IVC filter for permanent use, even though Bard’s research allegedly pointed to risks associated with long-term use of the filters. Instead of telling the FDA about these dangers, Bard continued to sell the deadly IVC filter without warning doctors or patients of the risks associated with long-term use.