This litigation has concluded and we are proud to report that our clients' claims have been successfully resolved. The amounts of all individual client recoveries are confidential, both by settlement agreement and by attorney-client privilege. MLG is no longer accepting cases involving this product.
"IVC" is an acronym for Inferior Vena Cava which is the largest vein in the body. Veins deliver de-oxygenated blood back to the heart so it can be pumped to the lungs for re-oxygenation and then re-circulated throughout the body. The IVC is the passageway through which all de-oxygenated blood is delivered back to the heart from the lower extremities.
IVC filters are implanted into the Inferior Vena Cava to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart and lungs and potentially causing life-threatening injury. If blood clots form in the legs, pelvis and other lower extremities, they can migrate and travel to the heart and lungs, passing through the Inferior Vena Cava. Implanted in the Inferior Vena Cava, these filters are intended to prevent clots from reaching the heart and lungs. According to published reports, about 250,000 IVC filters are implanted in patients each year.
When a patient faces risks associated with the formation of blood clots, various prevention/risk mitigation strategies may be available to a physician. Oftentimes, the first-line treatment therapy is the use of anti-coagulant medications to prevent the formation of blood clots. These blood-thinning medications carry risks, the most prominent of which is the risk of uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic or non-traumatic causes. When a patient is unable to undergo anticoagulant drug therapy - for example, after surgery or because of severe renal impairment - the placement of an IVC filter may be recommended. While it does not prevent the formation of blood clots, an IVC filter is intended to prevent blood clots (thrombi) from migrating to the heart and lungs where they can cause life-threatening injuries.
Generally, there are two different types of IVC filters: one type is intended as a permanent implant whereas the other is intended for temporary use. The temporary filters are referred to as "retrievable" filters. Implantation of an IVC filter is by way of a catheter inserted through a large vein, typically through a vein in the groin or neck. Removal, or retrieval, is accomplished through a similar process.
This litigation has concluded and we are proud to report that our clients' claims have been successfully resolved. The amounts of all individual client recoveries are confidential, both by settlement agreement and by attorney-client privilege. MLG is no longer accepting cases involving this product.