There are a number of factors that increase the likelihood that someone will develop a blood clot including obesity, age, pregnancy, medications, and activity level. While many blood clots simply dissolve on their own, others do not, a portion of it breaking off and traveling to other parts of the body. When the clot reaches a vein that is too small for it to pass through, it blocks blood flow and can cause serious damage. If the clot travels to the lungs, the blockage can be fatal.
Doctors have many medical treatments and devices that can help patients suffering from clotting disorders. One of the most popular is the IVC filter. This tiny device which is surgically implanted is a metal device that is supposed to work like a net that would catch a clot before it reaches the lungs. However, IVC filters come with numerous problems and to make matters worse, there is no evidence that they actually help patients suffering from clotting disorders.
Filter Side Effects & Risks
In 2010, 31 years after the first IVD filters were implanted in patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a shocking report, indicating that in just five years, the administration had received a total of 921 adverse event reports. These reports, written by doctors, informed the FDA that numerous filters had migrated away from the area they had been implanted. In many cases, the device actually broke sending pieces of metal through the patient’s bloodstream where it would later cause a perforation or abscess. In other cases, the device itself perforated the vein even though it hadn’t moved or broken.
These complications typically mean that a patient has to be hospitalized and undergo additional surgery. While the placement of an implant is decidedly difficult, removal is even harder, especially if shards have broken off and traveled to other parts of the body.
Lawsuits Claim Companies Promoted A Dangerous Device
The hundreds of plaintiffs who have filed against several manufacturers of IVC Filters claim that the makers of these devices were well aware of the risks associated with their use and were more concerned with making money than keeping patients safe. They further allege that there is no evidence showing that the filters actually do anything to stop blood clots from causing damage. Their hope is that through legal action, they will be able to recover compensation for their losses and obtain a sense that justice has been served.
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