New Assistance on Bard IVC Filter Lawsuits Alleging Fractures, Migrations: Resource4thePeople Adds More Filters to List of Claims Being Investigated
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 11, 2013 -- Resource4thePeople announced today that it has important news for consumers seeking information about seeking compensation in cases involving allegations of life-threatening side effects from interior vena cava (IVC) filters.
"While the majority of our inquiries from consumers about legal rights involving claims of IVC filter side effects involve C.R. Bard filters we are now expanding the list of filters from various manufacturers in which we are reviewing claims," said Resource4thePeople.
"Any consumer who is alleging an IVC filter injury in connection with these products, which were the subject of a Food and Drug Administration health advisory warning,* is encouraged to contact our national network of attorneys as soon as possible for a free consultation about the merits of their case."
Resource4thePeople said the models involved in these allegations are implanted in patients who have deep vein thrombosis in order to prevent blood clots and may be permanent or retrievable.
"The FDA has warned that when these IVC filters fracture or migrate they can cause life-threatening conditions in addition to bleeding and severe pain," said Resource4thePeople.
The IVCs being added to the list of devices eligible for review by Resource4thePeople attorneys are the Cook Celect, the Cordis OptEase and the ALN IVC filters.
Earlier models identified for review are the C.R. Bard Recovery IVC Filter and G2 IVC Filter, the Braun Tempofilter, the Cook Gunther Tulip and Select and the Rex Medical Option.
Consumers who may have been affected by side effects cited by the FDA* may be eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses and other expenses they may have incurred as a result of implanted devices. Here is a list of side effects now being reviewed:
• Deaths
• Permanent or temporary disability
• Additional surgeries
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Perforation or damage to the heart
• Perforation or damage to the lungs
• Perforation or damage to the kidneys
• Perforation or damage to blood vessels
• Bleeding or fluid build-up around the heart
• Erosion into the inferior vena cava
• Migration of the filter
• Filter fracture
• Embolization of broken filter fragments
• Irregular heartbeat
The FDA issued an Aug. 9, 2010 health advisory* warning health care providers and consumers about concerns that federal officials have in connection with the use of IVC filters. C.R. Bard has posted the FDA warning about Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters on the company’s web site.**
Also posted on the site are the findings of medical researchers who conducted research into the safety and side effects of IVC filters, including those manufactured by Bard. One of the studies*** found that of 61 subjects who underwent a Bard G2 filter retrieval procedure, 15 adverse events occurred in patients, four of which were serious.
“Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms are life-threatening medical conditions that have been attributed the use of IVC filters by the FDA in a health advisory citing the risk of adverse events with long-term use,” said Resource4thePeople. “The company acknowledges that by providing a link to the advisory.
“We are recommending that any consumers who had surgeries in which IVC filters were used familiarize themselves with the possible health consequences of these products. The FDA, for instance, cites nearly 1,000 adverse event reports in connection with these devices.”
Resource4thePeople also announced that it will continue to provide consumers regular updates about the progress of litigation involving these allegations and any results from the FDA’s investigation into these devices.
Here is part of the FDA warning:
“Since 2005, the FDA has received 921 device adverse event reports involving IVC filters, of which 328 involved device migration, 146 involved embolizations (detachment of device components), 70 involved perforation of the IVC, and 56 involved filter fracture. Some of these events led to adverse clinical outcomes in patients. These types of events may be related to a retrievable filter remaining in the body for long periods of time, beyond the time when the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) has subsided.
“The FDA is concerned that these retrievable IVC filters, intended for short-term placement, are not always removed once a patient’s risk for PE subsides. Known long term risks associated with IVC filters include but are not limited to lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), filter fracture, filter migration, filter embolization and IVC perforation.”
In researching court filings, Resource4thePeople notes the recent filing of a Bard IVC Filter lawsuit by a New York woman who is claiming in her lawsuit that the device was defectively designed, broke and caused her to suffer significant internal injuries.****
The woman is alleging the filter was implanted to prevent blood clots but broke apart with particles migrating through her body and damaging her internal organs.
IVC filters are medical devices designed to prevent blood clots in patients at risk for a pulmonary embolism in cases in which an anticoagulant is contraindicated or proven ineffective.
The FDA's health warning issued to health care professionals and consumers reports that serious health problems can occur on these spider-like devices when the legs that extend from it to block clots break off.
What can then occur, according to the FDA, is that these broken parts from the filter may travel to other parts of the body and cause serious problems such as lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), filter fracture, filter migration, filter embolization and IVC perforation.
Sources:
*http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm221707.htm
**http://www.bardpv.com/FILTERFACTS/
***http://www.bardpv.com/FILTERFACTS/EverstPosterRevSIR08.pdf
****Case # 2:13-cv-2281, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Bill Callahan, iLawSuit, +1 (858) 602-2749, [email protected]
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