Recent studies have concluded that over 40 percent of the Celect IVC Filters manufactured by Cook Medical, Inc. puncture the wall of the inferior vena cava within two months.
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters like the Celect devices are shaped like a cone, with up to 12 needle-like wire legs organized around a central hook. The purpose of these legs is to attach into the wall of the inferior vena to firmly anchor it inside the vein. However, the walls of the vena cava are extremely thin and easily punctured.
To make matters worse, vena cava is continually pulsating due to blood pressure, breathing, and other movements, and IVC filters must be built to withstand constant flexing without breaking. If they are too rigid, the legs will puncture the wall of the vein and cause serious health issues for the patient.
IVC Filter Lawsuits
Approximately 2,350 IVC filter lawsuits are pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana (Indianapolis Division). The cases make similar allegations against Cook Medical about the serious complications associated with the company’s IVC filters, including:
- Filter fracture, in which the IVC filter legs (struts) break off and threaten cardiac tissue and heart function.
- Tilt, which can decrease the filter’s ability to trap clots and make the IVC filter more difficult to remove.
- Migration, which occurs when the filter detaches from the vena cava’s walls where it perforate vessel walls, tissues, and the heart, blocking blood flow.
- Perforation of the vena cava, which can lead to retroperitoneal hematoma, gastrointestinal bleeding, and sepsis.
The lawsuits also claim that Cook Medical, Inc. marketed and sold a defective medical device, misrepresented the product in marketing claims, and failed to warn medical professionals and patients of the risks associated with their IVC filters.
