A Georgia IVC Filter Attorney Explains Product Dangers
Blood clots following surgery can be fatal for many people. While blood-thinning medications are widely used to minimize this risk, some people have adverse reactions to these medications. The IVC filter was designed for patients who could not take blood-thinning medications to address the risk of blood clots.
IVC filters are devices that are surgically inserted into the largest vein of the body, the inferior vena cava or “IVC” for short. These small metal devices are designed to prevent blood clots from traveling from elsewhere in the body to the heart or lungs, where they could cause a pulmonary embolism. There are two types of IVC filters:
- Permanent filters for long-term use.
- Retrievable filters that are for temporary use and designed to be removed once there is no risk of blood clots forming. Retrievable filters have the option of being left in for an extended period as well.
While pulmonary embolisms are often fatal, IVC filters, unfortunately, carry their own hazards. We recommend you speak with a Georgia IVC filter attorney if you have suffered adverse health consequences.
What Are the Dangers of IVC Filters in Georgia?
Studies conducted as long ago as 2010 indicated IVC filters posed severe risks to patients’ health. That same year, the FDA received more than 900 complaints concerning injuries caused by these devices, prompting the agency to issue a safety warning and recommend physicians closely monitor their patients and remove them as soon as possible.
Studies have suggested IVC filters were being overutilized and not removed as frequently as they should be. In addition, physicians were not adequately monitoring the health of their patients following implantation, which is problematic for several reasons, but more so because of the two main risks associated with these devices:
- Migration: the device moves from the location it was inserted and travels to other parts of the body. Migration of the device can lead to blood supply complications. It can be especially dangerous if the device makes its way to the heart or lungs.
- Erosion, fracture, or simply falling apart: pieces of the device break off, which can lead to punctures of the vein, lungs, heart, or other organs.
The use of IVC filters has been linked to multiple deaths. In addition, IVC filters have been linked to several severe health issues and injuries, including the following:
- Internal hemorrhaging
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Blockages resulting in swelling of the legs
- Perforated organs
- Severe infection
- Stroke
- Embolisms
- Pulmonary embolisms
- Blood clots in the lungs
- Cardiac tamponade
- Hypotension
- Venous thromboembolic disease
- Heart arrhythmia
Many of these complications and side effects can be fatal or lead to life-long health problems. If you have experienced any of these illnesses or other health complications as a result of an IVC filter, you should contact a Georgia IVC filter attorney right away to protect your rights.
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