Tennessee IVC Filter Lawsuit Lawyer
Nobody should have to learn that they received a defective medical device in a surgical procedure. However, thousands of patients who received IVC filters have sustained serious injuries as a result of these dangerous and defective medical devices. In some cases, patients have sustained fatal injuries. Since 2018, patients and their families have recovered more than $40 million from defective medical device companies through IVC filter lawsuits.
If you or someone you love received an IVC filter and sustained a serious or deadly injury, it is critical to seek advice from a Tennessee IVC filter lawsuit lawyer as soon as possible. Our team of defective medical device attorneys at Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette can assess your case today.
What is an IVC Filter Lawsuit?
An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a type of small medical device “that can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The inferior vena cava, Johns Hopkins explains, is “a large vein in the middle of your body,” and IVC filter placement occurs during a short surgical procedure. When a patient suffers a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is a type of blood clot that forms in a deep vein, a patient’s valves can be damaged. If those valves “weaken or become leaky,” Johns Hopkins clarifies, a patient can be at risk of additional blood clots that ultimately could be deadly.
IVC filter placement is done to prevent a patient from experiencing a pulmonary embolism. Johns Hopkins describes the IVC filter as “a small, wiry device” that allows blood to flow properly. The IVC filter works by catching blood clots and preventing them from moving to a person’s heart or lungs. To place an IVC filter, a surgeon will make a small incision in the patient’s vein in his or her neck or groin. The surgeon then inserts a catheter, through which the IVC filter ultimately is placed. IVC filter lawsuits occur when the IVC filter causes injury to the patient.
Injury Risks from an IVC Filter Placement
Patients who receive IVC filters and later suffer injuries from these defective devices may be eligible to file a claim against the IVC manufacturer. Common IVC manufacturers include Bard, Cook Medical, Cordis, and Rex Medical. Some of the injuries associated with IVC filter placement include but are not limited to the following:
- Infection;
- IVC filter migration, including travel to the heart or lungs;
- IVC filter components left in the body after device removal;
- Perforated vein;
- Perforated organ;
- Blood flow blockage through the vena cava; and
- Excessive bleeding.
Depending upon the severity of the harm, a patient can suffer life-threatening and even fatal injuries from a defective IVC filter. Patients who have suffered serious injuries caused by IVC filter placement may be able to argue successfully that the device was defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed.
Contact a Tennessee Defective Medical Device Lawyer
Do you need assistance filing an IVC filter lawsuit? One of our Tennessee defective medical device attorneys can assist you. Contact Fox, Farley, Willis & Burnette for more information about filing a claim for financial compensation.
