If you had an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter implanted to prevent the movement of blood clots to your heart or lungs, you may have had problems with it being removed or with it failing and causing other serious complications. You are not alone. Many people that had the same type of IVC filter implanted in their bodies for the same reasons are dealing with multiple issues because of filter failure. Find out more about IVC filters, how they are failing, and what you can do about the one you have inside you.

Your Life May Depend On Learning More

Finding out more about the filter you have in your body is vital and could help to save your life. For example, you may not know that IVC filters are supposed to be used as a temporary device—they should only be used until the risk of embolism is over. If your filter has been in place for more than 54 days, you should discuss its immediate removal with your physician. You should also know that IVC filters should only be implanted in someone who is not able to take anticoagulants (blood thinners). If you have an IVC filter and you do not know whether or not you can take blood thinners, you need to ask your doctor how he or she knows you are unable to take blood thinners. Learning more about the reasons you cannot take blood thinners, even all-natural ones, is important.

The Negative Side Effects You Need To Know About

When an IVC filter fails, it can cause an array of serious issues. One of the most serious side effects is vena cava and organ perforation. Perforation means the tissue of the vena cava and organs is cut or punctured, which is a serious internal injury that could lead to internal hemorrhaging (bleeding). Other serious effects of a failed IVC filter include:

• Pericardial effusion (fluid buildup around the heart) that causes pressure on the heart, making it harder for it to properly circulate blood and disperse oxygen throughout the body.
• Loss of consciousness
• Breathlessness
• Pain the chest
• Filter fracture and migration, meaning the filter moves to another location in your body, where it can puncture and perforate organ tissue
• Damage to the heart

If you have experienced any of the symptoms associated with IVC filter failure or if you have had one implanted for too long, speaking to a lawyer with knowledge of IVC filter failure about the possibility of filing an IVC filter lawsuit is extremely important. You deserve compensation for being implanted with a device that was supposed to help prevent medical emergencies instead of creating them.