Study Questions Actual Worth of IVC Filters for Trauma Patients
If you have suffered a traumatic injury, you will be at high risk for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This occurs when a blood clot embolizes (breaks free) and travels to the heart or lungs. This is a life threatening event. To counteract this increased risk, it has been the practice for many surgeons to implant an IVC filter in trauma patients.
IVC filters are spider like devices designed to catch blood clots and keep them from traveling into the heart or lungs. But IVC filters have been known to cause serious injuries such as blocked blood vessels because they can break apart or migrate to other parts of the body. In addition to these risks, a new study raises questions about the effectiveness of implanting IVC filters into trauma patients verses the risks involved.
The study was conducted by the University of Michigan and published in an edition of the Annals of Surgery. The study involved over 800 trauma patients who had IVC filters implanted to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism. At the end of the study, researchers found that there was no significant statistical increase of longevity between patients who had IVC filters implanted and patients that did not have the filters implanted. Overall, the study found that high rates of IVC filter placement had basically no affect on reducing mortality rates among trauma patients and were actually associated with an increase of deep vein thrombosis.
If you had an IVC filter inserted after a traumatic injury, it is suggested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that you have it removed once the risk of blood clots has passed. However, other studies have shown that only 10 percent of IVC filters are able to be successfully removed. If you have had an IVC filter implanted, you may have grounds for a legal claim against the device’s manufacturer.
To ensure that you get the settlement you deserve, it is important to have a dedicated pharmaceutical litigation attorney. Farah & Farah is currently investigating IVC filter related injuries nationwide. Let us put our knowledge and tenacity behind your claim by calling (800) 533-3555 for a free consultation.
