Kansas City Port Catheter Injury Lawyer

The term port catheter describes a variety of medical devices that are characterized by being made up of a port and a catheter. Different models are used for different medical needs, including administering chemotherapy to cancer patients and removing blood clots in sufferers of acute ischemic stroke.

Port catheters enable important and often life-saving treatments. However, in recent years there have been various models of port catheter devices that have been recalled due to defective devices. This is following hundreds of reports of complications and deaths related to port catheter devices.

Medical device manufacturers did not adhere to the standards expected of them and allowed defective devices to make their way to the market. What’s worse is that when reports of device failure started to appear, they were slow to act, and the result was preventable harm to consumers of their products.

If you or someone you love has suffered an injury because of a defective port catheter, then you may be owed compensation. At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we offer a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to assess your case and determine whether we believe you have a claim; we will then advise you on your next steps.

We are committed to securing maximum compensation for victims of defective medical devices while at the same time urging manufacturing companies to adhere to higher standards.

Contact a Kansas City Catheter Lawsuit Attorney at Holman Schiavone Law, LLC Today

At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we offer experienced and compassionate representation. Our team of personal injury lawyers are skilled litigators, which means that we are always prepared to take cases to court if necessary, even when faced with large medical device manufacturers and their legal teams.

It is important that your Kansas City attorneys are prepared to go to trial, even if your case ends in an out-of-court settlement. Insurance defense attorneys know which attorneys are willing to take them to court and who aren’t, and this can greatly affect the settlement they offer. Our long history of successful litigation for our clients can therefore be an important factor in the outcome of your case.

Our legal team takes a personalized and compassionate approach, which means that we take the time to understand what effect your injuries have had on your life. This allows us to fight for a settlement that is truly representative of the financial burden as well as your emotional suffering, both now and in the future.

What is a Port Catheter?

Port catheters have various names, including port a cath, implanted port device, and subcutaneous port. There are various models of port catheters that serve different purposes; however, they are defined by having two parts:

Catheter – A long tube that is usually made of silicone to ensure it is soft and flexible that enters a vein.
Port – A small medical appliance that connects to the catheter and is usually inserted beneath the skin of the chest.

The most common type of port catheter is designed for patients who require long-term treatment. It enables medicine to be given and blood to be taken without the use of needles. They are beneficial for patients as they can be left in for weeks, months, and even years. They allow for treatments that last more than a single day, and patients can go to and from the hospital with the device left in.

Another type of port catheter is reperfusion catheters which are single-use devices used for sufferers of acute ischemic stroke in order to remove blood clots.

Recalled Port Catheter Devices

There have been reports regarding various models of port catheter devices. If you or someone you love has suffered an injury from a port a cath device, then you should seek a free consultation with Holman Schiavone Law, LLC so that we can advise you on your next steps.

It almost always takes ongoing pressure from victims and their attorneys before medical device manufacturers take steps to recall their products. Some recent examples of recalled products are:

Penumbra JET 7 Xrtra Flex Catheter

The Penumbra Jet 7 Xtra Flex catheter is an aspiration catheter that is designed to remove blood clots in sufferers of acute ischemic stroke. The single-use catheter is designed to remove blood clots causing the stroke.

Penumbra released their first aspiration catheter in 2007, which was considered to be a revolutionary medical device, and since, there have been several models of Jet 7 Catheters. However, soon after the release of the Jet 7 Xtra Flex catheter, there began to be reports of patient injury and death as a result of distal tip damage.

In Penumbra’s urgent voluntary recall, they stated:

“Penumbra is recalling the JET 7 Xtra Flex because the catheter may become susceptible to distal tip damage during use. Distal tip damage in conjunction with pressurization or contrast injection may result in potential vessel damage, and subsequent patient injury or death,”

The device was designed to withstand pressurization and contrast injection, but there were numerous cases of rupture, ballooning, expansion, exposure of internal support coils, and complete separation.

These complications caused serious injuries, including:

Hemorrhage.
Vessel damage.
Cerebral infarction.
Death.

There have been over 200 reports of injury, malfunction, and death due to the Jet 7 Xtra Flex, and victims may be eligible to file a lawsuit against Penumbra.

Bard PowerPort and Bard MRI Implantable Port

Bard issued a voluntary recall of the Bard PowerPort and Bard MRI Implantable Port in March 2021. Numerous consumers of these devices experienced catheter degradation due to flex fatigue, causing fracture and migration.

Initial reports were blamed on the medical malpractice of healthcare professionals. However, as more reports began to emerge, it became clear that the problem was with the devices themselves. As a result, the medical manufacturer, Bard, may be liable for victims’ injuries.

The resulting injuries of catheter failure include:

Lacerations to blood vessels.
Blood clots.
Blood infections.
Sepsis.
Cardiac arrhythmia.
Pulmonary embolism.
Hematomas.
Cardiac Punctures.
Death.

Victims of injury from a Bard PowerPort or Bard MRI Implantable Port, may be eligible for compensation. If you or someone you love has suffered a catheter injury from a Bard device, then you should seek a free consultation with a catheter injury attorney as soon as possible.

What is Catheter Fracture?

Some models, such as the Bard PowerPort, were at risk of degrading, leading to catheter fracture. Catheter fracture is where small pieces of the catheter come loose and enter the circulatory system. This can cause serious harm to blood vessels, the heart, and other organs.

Catheter fractures can be severe, causing permanent injuries and even life-threatening illnesses, leading to blocked arteries, pulmonary embolism, or damage to the lungs and heart.

Other serious complications from catheter fracture include infection as a result of space in the catheter where bacteria is able to develop.

It is essential that medical devices are able to withstand use for their intended purpose. Catheter fracture leads to preventable injuries, and victims should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible and pursue justice.

What is Catheter Migration?

Catheter migration is where the catheter becomes dislodged from the port without fracturing. When this happens, the catheter can move to other parts of the body, but so long as it does not break apart, it should be easy to retrieve. However, it does have the potential to cause serious injury. Catheter migration is usually because of catheter failure, and victims should seek legal counsel from a catheter lawsuit attorney.

Do I Need a Kansas City Port Catheter Injury Lawyer To Secure Compensation?

Victims of defective medical devices have a right to pressure compensation without legal representation. However, lawsuits against medical manufacturers are often intimidating. They will have large teams of attorneys who will fight to limit liability and diminish your claim.

The only way to level the playing field is to secure representation from a Kansas City catheter lawsuit attorney. An experienced attorney will ensure that they have a wealth of evidence in your case and that they determine a settlement figure that is difficult to dispute. They will take over the legal process and negotiate with medical manufacturers to fight for what you deserve.

Most personal injury victims who secure representation end up with a higher settlement, even after legal fees are considered, thanks to the skills and resources that their attorney provides.

Product liability is a type of personal injury case, which means that liability is based on negligence. Your catheter lawsuit lawyer will need to prove that the medical manufacturer behaved negligently, meaning that they deviated from the standard of care expected of them, and this behavior must have been the direct cause of your injuries.

Claims against medical manufacturers are highly complex, as it is necessary to determine what injuries and damages were a result of the negligence of the corporation and which you may have suffered regardless. Therefore it is important to look for an attorney who has navigated similar cases to yours in the past, such as the attorneys here at Holman Schiavone Law, LLC.

What Are The Potential Injuries From an Implanted Port?

Injuries from port catheters are fairly common, with around one in three consumers experiencing some kind of complication. Most complications are not serious and can be treated without causing long-term injury. However, some injuries are serious and even life-threatening, especially when those injuries are a result of a defective device.

Potential complications consumers of port catheters can experience include:

Blood Clots

A fractured port catheter can lead to vein wall irritation and inflammation, resulting in the formation of blood clots. Whenever a catheter is inserted into the vein, there is a risk of blood clots. However, a defective device can increase the risk and the potential harm to patients.

Blood clots can often easily be treated with medicine, but if the port catheter is defective, then the device will need to be removed.

Blood clots can also become serious when they travel to other parts of the body, where they can cause a heart attack or stroke.

Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that becomes trapped in the artery of the lung and bl0cks the blood flow. It can sometimes occur as a result of a defective catheter that leads to catheter rupture or catheter disconnection.

A pulmonary embolism can damage lung tissue and cause blood oxygen levels to become dangerously low. The effects are often severe and can be life-threatening.

Blocked Line

Blood clots can also lead to a blocked line, making treatment difficult. While medical professionals can sometimes clear the blockage, the device will sometimes need to be removed, particularly if the device has begun to degrade.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is a condition that causes air to leak into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. Pneumothorax can also be caused by a degrading port catheter device.

Infection

The most common type of injury resulting from a port-a-cath device is infection. The initial symptoms of port catheter infection are swelling redness and a high temperature. While they are often treated with antibiotics, if the catheter is defective, it will need to be removed.

A defective catheter device could degrade while inserted in the vein, which creates fractures that allow for bacteria to build up. Serious infections can lead to sepsis which is life-threatening.

How Much is a Catheter Lawsuit Worth in Kansas City, MO?

The value of catheter lawsuits in Kansas City varies widely depending on the severity of injuries, how willing the other party is to admit fault, and the quality of your representation.

At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we pride ourselves on our ability to win high compensation for our clients. We do that by ensuring that your past and future expenses are considered as well as the emotional impact your injuries have had on your life. We take a personalized approach to the attorney-client relationship, which allows us to understand our clients and provide evidence for a settlement figure that is difficult to dispute.

Potential damages you could claim include:

Medical Expenses

One of the biggest worries that people face following an injury it the cost of medical expenses. If the injuries are serious and the treatment complex, even a premium health insurance policy may not be enough to cover the costs.

Fortunately, as part of the product liability claim process, you can pursue the recovery of all medical expenses, both past, and future. This means you can claim for all of the treatment costs you have incurred so far, and you may be entitled to seek compensation to cover all of the medical expenses you might face in the future.

Medical expenses arent just your treatment costs either; you may be able to claim for childcare, transport costs to and from the hospital, and any alterations you have had to make to your home for your further care.

Your personal injury lawyer should have access to a panel of medical experts who can advise them on what your long-term treatment costs might look like.

Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering damages are subjective to the pain and emotional suffering you have been through as a result of your injuries. These are the most challenging damages to calculate. The more experience your attorney has in winning cases similar to yours, the better equipped they will be to calculate these damages in a way that is difficult to argue with.

Pain and suffering can also include a loss of enjoyment of life. This compensates victims if they have had to change their lifestyle. An example would be if you were a keen cyclist but could no longer ride a bike due to your injuries. You deserve to pursue compensation for this loss.

Lost Wages

Most injuries will result in the victim taking time off work to recover and receive treatment. If this has led to a loss of income or lost wages, you may be worried about your financial security.

Your attorney will be able to help you document and calculate how much you have lost due to lost wages, and they will pursue compensation for your losses.

If your injuries a serious enough that you can never work in the same capacity again, your attorney may seek a lifetime of lost earning potential and may need the help of financial experts to gauge what this looks like.

Losing a Loved One After a Catheter Injury

If you have lost a family member because of catheter failure, then you may be able to claim compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. Potential damages include loss of income to a family household, pain and suffering damages for your loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and any other expense that resulted from your loved ones’ injury, such as medical expenses.

Losing a loved one because of the negligent actions of a medical manufacturer is incredibly traumatic, and for many of the people we work with, the last thing they want to do is fight an uphill legal battle. At Holman Schiavone Law LLC, we will treat your care with the care it deserves and will take over everything on your behalf. We will fight tirelessly so that you do not have to suffer financially because of a corporation’s negligence.

Contact Holman Schiavone Law LLC For a Free Consultation

It is essential that medical device manufacturers are held to the highest standards to prevent future harm. At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, our law firm is committed to holding corporations accountable and achieving justice for victims of port catheter injuries across South and North Kansas City.

Speak to one of our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation at 816-320-6108.

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.