IVC Filter Defect Rates; a Cause for Concern

PHOENIX - March 2, 2016 - PRLog -- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are small devices implanted in patients at risk for a pulmonary embolism. The filters are designed to prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs. Over the past year, numerous lawsuits have been filed against IVC filter manufacturers C.R. Bard and Cook Medical for potentially life threatening defects associated with their filters. "Claims against Bard and Cook involve incidents of retrievable IVC filters fracturing, moving out of place, puncturing the vena cava or causing other internal injuries,” says Attorney Robert Arentz, founder of the Arentz Law Group. The Arentz Law Group recently launched a nationwide campaign to inform those harmed by defective IVC Filters of their legal rights.

A study published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine in March 2013 indicated that less than 10% of retrievable filters evaluated in the study were successfully removed from patients and 8% of recipients of IVC filters suffered a pulmonary embolism despite the device’s presence.

In May 2014, the FDA urged doctors to remove IVC filters within one to two months after the risk of a pulmonary embolism has passed. Current lawsuits allege that, prior to the FDA warning, doctors were not adequately warned by IVC filter manufacturers about the importance of retrieving the devices. Further, the lawsuits claim that appropriate steps were not taken by filter manufacturers to warn doctors and patients about their potential for defect.

The Arentz Law Group has announced that they are providing free legal consultations to those who have experienced serious complications related to Bard, Cook, or other IVC Filter implants. Patients whose IVC filters have tilted, broken apart, punctured the Vena Cava or caused other internal injuries may be entitled to significant compensation. To redeem the offer for free legal consultation or for more information, IVC filter patients or their loved ones are encouraged to visit the IVC Filter Legal Help Center on Facebook or the Arentz Law Group IVC Filter information page at ArentzLaw.com.