Texas IVC Filter Lawyer – Texas IVC Blood Clot Filter Lawsuit Settlements
If you or a loved one suffered certain side effects from an IVC Blood Clot Filter you may be entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturer. Call us today to get the facts. Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or use our online contact form and a Texas IVC Filter Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer your questions and discuss your possible claim. This is a free, no obligation case review and there are no legal fees unless you receive money at the end of the case. Time is limited, so please call today.
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IVC Filters
IVC is short for“inferior vena cava.” It is a large blood vein that takes de-oxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart. Oxygen from this blood has already been used by the muscles and tissue in the lower body, and then it empties into the right atrium of the heart. An IVC filter is a small, metal device that is designed to prevent blood clots that develop in the legs or lower torso from traveling to the lungs or heart.
The blood clots that develop in the lower extremities or the pelvis are commonly referred to as deep venous thrombosis or DVT. Development in the legs is most common. They may occur after long periods of non-movement, such as after surgery or when you are bedridden. DVT is considered a severe condition because blood clots can break loose and travel to your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism, which blocks blood flow to the lungs. Pulmonary embolisms cause roughly 300,000 deaths each year.
How the IVC Filter Helps Prevent Pulmonary Embolisms
The filter itself looks like a small metal cage or spider. It is placed within the vein and literally catches blood clots with its spider-like arms to stop them from traveling further up the bloodstream. The devices have been in continued use since FDA approval in 1979. As of 2012, there were over 259,000 filters implanted into patients.
Some filters have been designed to be permanent while others are removable. Retrievable or removable filters are supposed to offer short-term protection from pulmonary embolisms (PE) when there is a uniquely high risk of PE, such as after surgery or accident. IVC filters are often used in those who cannot tolerate blood thinning medications because of adverse reactions.
Potential Problems with IVC Filters
IVC filters have some serious side effects that can cause long-term damage or health concerns. The majority of the side effects are caused when the filter moves from its implanted location. Small pieces of the filter can also break off and travel through the bloodstream, damaging the vein itself and other organs.
Some of these side effects include:
- Heart damage
- Perforation of the vena cava or organs
- Chest pain or loss of breath
- Loss of consciousness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Fracture or mitigation of the filter
- Fluid buildup around the heart
The FDA issued a safety alert in 2010 regarding problems with the filters. Between 2005 and 2010, the FDA received over 900 reports of problems with device movement, fracture, or breakage. Most events involved the movement of the filter.
Retrievable filters are designed only to be used as a short-term solution. However, the FDA is concerned that doctors are not using them as intended, keeping them in place far longer than safe. In 2014, the FDA recommended that retrievable filters be removed between day 29 and 54 after the risk of PE has decreased.