Bard® IVC Filter Lawsuit

The Gallagher Law Firm is currently prosecuting cases involving medical implants of Bard® IVC (inferior vena cava) filters used to prevent life-threatening pulmonary emboli (PEs).

Call (888) 222-7052 or contact us online if you or a relative may have an illness or injury related to the surgical placement of a Bard® IVC filter and you would like to discuss your rights or options with a lawyer.

Why Bard® IVC Filters are Used

An inferior vena cava filter (IVC filter) is a type of vascular filter, a medical device that is implanted into the inferior vena cava to prevent life-threatening pulmonary emboli (PEs). It is an expandable metal device specially designed to trap blood clots before they reach the lungs, which is the cause of pulmonary emboli. Generally speaking, IVC filters are considered for patients at risk of PEs for whom anticoagulants or “blood thinners” are not recommended.

The Bard® Optional Vena Cava Filter is designed to be a permanent implant. However, the filter can be removed when your physician determines that you no longer need it.

Reasons for Lawsuits

The IVC Filter lawsuits state that the manufacturers of the IVC blood clot devices failed to warn patients and physicians of the increased risks of the filters breaking, and metal fragments moving through the blood, potentially damaging an organ.

Additionally, the lawsuits state that the manufacturer C.R. Bard hid the results of its own research finding the filters dangerous, and even forged an employee’s signature on an FDA application in order to get FDA approval.

The Bard® products most often involved in an IVC filter lawsuit are:

  • The Bard® Recovery filter
  • The Bard® G2 filter
  • The Bard® G2 Express filter
  • The Bard® Eclipse
  • The Bard® Merdian
  • The Bard® Denali

Side Effects, Problems and Risks of IVC Filters

There have been reports of the IVC blood clot filter falling out of place or breaking apart. The metal device, or pieces from it, can then move through the blood, working their way through a vein wall and damaging an internal organ. There are also reports of blood clots occurring at the location where the device was inserted – the same clotting that the device is supposed to prevent. To date, the Recovery IVC Filter has been implicated in at least 30 deaths and 300 injuries.

If pieces of the IVC filter break and move to the heart or lungs, symptoms may include:

  • Chest Pain
  • Confusion
  • Heart Rhythm Problems
  • Hypotension
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea
  • Neck Pain
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Hemorrhaging or Internal Bleeding

In severe cases, injuries can lead to:

  • Death
  • Hemorrhaging (severe bleeding)
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Stroke

In conclusion, the IVC filter products are known to break apart (fracture), move, puncture, and result in significant retrieval complications. Perforation (puncturing) of important organs (such as the heart and lungs) is frequent in cases where an IVC filter has broken, fractured, and/or migrated (moved). Retrieval of these filters is often unsuccessful, requiring multiple surgeries.

Contact Us — Free Consultations

Contact The Gallagher Law Firm at (888) 222-7052 or contact us online if you think you or a relative may have an illness or injury related to the surgical placement of a Bard® IVC filter and you would like to discuss your rights or options with a lawyer.