Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are designed to prevent blood clots in patients who cannot use blood thinners. While they have enjoyed widespread use for some years, there is a good deal of controversy that surrounds them as well.
To date, there have been thousand of reports of issues arising from the use and removal of these devices. IVC filters are susceptible to migration within the body and the procedure to remove even the most modern versions can still be very dangerous and difficult to perform.
The attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC take great pride in staying current on news related to the various legal services we provide so that our clients can be well-informed as well.
Recent information shows that the use of IVC filters is a medical topic that is under considerable scrutiny, and because of this, professionals in the medical field are beginning to reexamine the use of the devices and the frequency in which they are implanted in patients.
Decreases in Use
One encouraging sign regarding the potential health and safety hazards associated with IVC filters is that there continues to be a decline in their use. This drop in the number of IVC filters in use began in 2010 shortly after the FDA issued a safety alert about devices that had been implanted for an extended period of time.
This overall decrease, however, has not been uniform across the country. The Northeastern U.S. has seen the bulk of the reduction, due in part to a medical environment that sees more disputes find their way into the courts. Western states have also seen decreases, but the legal atmosphere of their medical world does not have such a contentious streak.
Southern states have not experienced the same cutbacks in IVC use, largely due to tort reforms. These changes have made it harder for plaintiffs in these cases, not only to win settlements but the size of the settlements has been capped as well.
Regardless of what part of the country you find yourself in, there is likely to be a facility specializing in the removal of IVC filters. As the use of IVC filters began to decline, the number of places a patient could go to have one taken out rose greatly.
Instances of Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
Another factor that may contribute to the decline of IVC filters is that new studies are calling into question the effectiveness the devices have had in reducing the rate of PE. One particular study, published in JAMA Surgery, documents how the sharp decline in IVC use in trauma has not resulted in a rise in PE rates.
This relationship calls into question how useful these devices are in helping prevent blood clots. The possibility that they do not have much influence over the number of PE cases is something that has become hard to ignore for many physicians across the country.
While the authors of the study do not advocate the complete discontinuation of IVC filter use, they do acknowledge that there is still research to be done into their implementation.
Finding the safest ways and situations to employ IVC filters is still something that eludes even the most inquisitive and well-intentioned medical minds, which is probably as telling as recommending they not be used.
There continue to be many positive signs regarding the removal of IVC filters from medical use.
Future patients deserve to be treated with alternatives that do not come with as many safety questions.
If you or your family are seeking help with IVC filter litigation, the attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC are here to find the solutions to your problems and get you the justice you’ve been searching for.
Unfortunately, there are still many in need of legal aid because of the medical and health complications they have faced due to the use of an IVC filter.
The attorneys at Hotze Runkle PLLC are committed to helping those have been harmed by IVC filters.
If you or a loved one has suffered physical, emotional, and financial complications, or even death as a result of an IVC filter, Hotze Runkle PLLC is here to help.
Contact us today at (877) 919-0830.
Please be aware that there is a statute of limitations which bars claims not brought within an allotted time period after the injury occurred. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation to review your legal options and ensure proper legal guidance in your time of need.