Health Canada warns about risk of potentially fatal complications with IVC filters

Canada’s top medical agency, Health Canada, has issued a warning about the risk of serious and potentially fatal complications for patients who are implanted with inferior vena cava filters, or IVC filters. Health Canada issued the warning after receiving more than 100 reports of serious complications among patients with an IVC filter.

IVC filters are used to prevent pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis in patients with a risk of blood clots who cannot be treated with anticoagulant drugs. IVC filters are made as both permanent filters, which are left in the patient’s body, or retrievable form, which are removed after a given length of time.

After performing a safety review regarding the health risks associated with IVC filters, Health Canada found that these products were associated with a risk of serious complications, including vein perforation, thrombosis, broken filters, migration of the device, cardiac perforation, and death. The agency had received 121 reports of complications caused by IVC filters as of June 2016.

As a result of the health risks associated with the use of IVC filters, Health Canada has advised doctors that these devices should only be used on patients at risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis who are unable to be treated with blood thinners. The Health Canada warning includes all brands of IVC filters that are approved for use in Canada, including the Cook Celect and Gunther Tulip filters manufactured by Cook Medical, Denali IVC filters made by C.R. Bard, and other IVC filters sold by A.L.N., B. Braun Medical, Cordis Cashel, and REX Medical.

Many of the complications associated with IVC filters occur 30 days or more after these devices are implanted. As a result, Health Canada advises doctors to consider removing the retrievable filters as soon as treatment with anticoagulant drugs can begin or a patient’s risk of blood clots subsides.

Complications from IVC Filters? You may qualify to file a lawsuit.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious complications after being implanted with IVC filters manufactured by C.R. Bard, Cook Medical, or other medical device manufacturers, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. The first step in taking legal action is to speak with an experienced attorney who can advise you regarding your legal rights.

For a free legal consultation and to find out more about whether you may be eligible to file an IVC filter lawsuit, contact the law office of Heygood, Orr & Pearson by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001. You can also reach us by following the link to our free case evaluation form and answering a few questions about your case to get started.

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