Since the introduction of the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter in 2005, the FDA has received roughly 1,000 adverse reports involving these filters. Specifically, it was reported that the IVC filters fragment and embolize in the body. Fragmented filters sometimes migrate through the body and puncture the heart, lungs, or other organs. IVC filter complications are very serious and can be life-threatening.
Research on these devices and the reports made by physicians and consumers have caused the FDA to urge physicians to advise patients of the risks and benefits before selecting IVC filters and to remove the device once the symptoms have diminished. Unfortunately, the FDA’s recommendations came too late for many patients who had already sustained IVC filter-related injuries. Medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to warn physicians and the public of any risks associated with their products. If the maker of an IVC filter has marketed and sold a defective product, the company can be held financially responsible for its negligence.