Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, designed to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs, have caused serious injuries when devices fracture, migrate, or become impossible to remove. Thousands of patients have filed lawsuits against IVC filter manufacturers alleging these complications were foreseeable and inadequately warned.
What Are IVC Filters?
IVC filters are small, cage-like devices implanted in the inferior vena cava—the large vein carrying blood from the lower body to the heart. The filters trap blood clots traveling upward, preventing potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. Originally designed as permanent implants, many modern IVC filters are marketed as retrievable, intended for temporary use and removal once the clot risk passes.
The retrievability feature has become central to litigation because many filters cannot actually be safely removed after implantation, leaving patients with devices that pose ongoing risks of fracture, migration, and perforation.
IVC Filter Complications
The most serious complications driving IVC filter lawsuits include:
Device fracture occurs when filter components break apart inside the body. Broken pieces can migrate through the bloodstream to the heart, lungs, or other organs, potentially causing fatal injury or requiring dangerous open-heart surgery to retrieve.
Filter migration happens when the entire device moves from its intended position, traveling toward the heart or embedding deeper into the vena cava wall. Migrated filters may perforate the vessel wall or damage surrounding organs.
Vena cava perforation occurs when filter struts puncture through the vessel wall, potentially damaging adjacent structures including the spine, aorta, or bowel. Perforations can cause internal bleeding and require emergency intervention.
Tilting and embolization reduces filter effectiveness while increasing complication risk. Tilted filters may fail to catch clots while simultaneously damaging the vessel wall.
Failed retrieval affects patients with retrievable filters that become embedded in vessel tissue, making safe removal impossible. These patients face lifelong complication risks from devices that were supposed to be temporary.
Manufacturers Facing IVC Filter Litigation
Major IVC filter manufacturers named in lawsuits include:
C.R. Bard faces the largest litigation over its Recovery and G2 filter series. Internal documents revealed during litigation showed Bard received hundreds of adverse event reports but allegedly continued marketing its filters without adequate warnings.
Cook Medical faces lawsuits over its Celect and Gunther Tulip filters, with claims focusing on perforation, migration, and retrieval failures.
Boston Scientific and Cordis also face litigation over their respective IVC filter products.
Legal Claims in IVC Filter Cases
IVC filter lawsuits typically allege:
Design defects made the filters unreasonably prone to fracture, migration, and perforation compared to alternative designs or materials that would have been safer.
Failure to warn physicians and patients about the frequency and severity of complications, retrieval difficulties, and the importance of timely filter removal.
Fraudulent marketing of filters as safely retrievable when manufacturers knew removal was often difficult or impossible.
Compensation for IVC Filter Injuries
Patients injured by IVC filters may recover damages including:
Medical expenses for filter removal surgery, treatment of perforations or migrations, cardiac procedures if fragments reached the heart, and ongoing monitoring.
Lost wages during treatment and recovery, and lost earning capacity if injuries cause permanent disability.
Pain and suffering for physical discomfort, anxiety from living with a fractured or migrated device, and fear of future complications.
Pursuing an IVC Filter Claim
Patients with IVC filter complications should document the type of filter implanted, preserve all medical records showing complications, and consult with an attorney experienced in medical device litigation. Time limits apply to filing claims, so prompt consultation protects your legal rights.