Port catheters are medical devices that are designed for a variety of uses. From single-use port catheters that remove blood clots to devices that are left in for many months to allow for ongoing treatments such as chemotherapy.
For consumers of port-a-cath devices, they can be a lifeline. They make important procedures possible, and those receiving ongoing treatment can go to and from the hospital with the device left in, allowing for a more normal life.
However, in recent years there have been reports of defective port catheter devices resulting in injuries such as infection, blood clots, device fracture resulting in organ damage, and even death. These injuries may be preventable and could be a result of the negligence of medical device manufacturers.
Consumers of medical equipment should expect the highest quality, as any deviation can have serious implications. Medical device manufacturers should test their products to ensure that they are safe and should act quickly if any issues arise to prevent any further harm.
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury because of a port catheter device, then you should speak to a catheter lawsuit lawyer at your earliest convenience. When you contact Holman Schiavone, LLC, we arrange a free consultation where we will assess your case and determine whether we believe you could be owed compensation. We will fight for the best possible outcome in your case while also putting pressure on manufacturing companies to ensure higher standards.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a catheter lawsuit lawyer at 816-320-6108.
What is a Port-a-Cath Implanted Port?
There are various types of port catheter devices for a variety of purposes. They are characterized by having two parts:
- A catheter is a thin tube, often made of soft and flexible silicone.
- A port, which is a small medical appliance, usually inserted beneath the skin, that connects to the catheter.
The most common type of port catheter is designed to administer medicine and take blood without the use of needles. The port is usually inserted beneath the skin of the chest but can also be placed in the arm, and the catheter enters the vein above the heart (subclavian vein cannulation), or a vein in the neck (internal jugular vein cannulation).
Central venous catheter insertion is a common procedure for medical professionals and is relatively straightforward. Patients are usually given local anesthesia while the device is fitted, and then it can be left in place for weeks, months, or even years.
What Other Names Are Used For Port Catheters?
There are various names for port catheters, depending on the type of device. Some names you may have heard for port catheters include:
- Port-a-cath.
- Totally implantable venous access device.
- Port catheter.
- Subcutaneous central venous catheters.
- Central venous access devices.
- Subcutaneous central venous ports.
- Implantable venous access system.
- Central venous port systems.
- Rapid central venous access.
- Venous port system.
- Central venous system.
- Implantable venous access ports.
Who Can Benefit From a Port Catheter?
Common consumers of port catheter devices include cancer patients, hematology patients, and ontology patients.
There are also single-use catheter devices, called reperfusion catheters which are used for sufferers of acute ischemic stroke in order to remove blood clots.
In the past, catheter devices were also used for hemodialysis patients but are no longer used due to the risk of infection.
What Are The Potential Complications of an Implanted Port?
The most common complication is an infection, and the majority are easily treated. However, when the root cause of an injury is a defective device, the consequences tend to be more serious.
Defective devices have been known to degrade, causing fracture and breakage, leading to infection, sepsis, damaged blood vessels, damaged organs, blood clots, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.
What is Catheter Migration?
Catheter migration is where the catheter breaks away from the port, often caused by a defective device. When the catheter breaks away from the port, it can move to other parts of the body and cause harm. It often requires surgery to retrieve, but so long as it remains whole, this should be a simple procedure. However, catheter migration can become serious, especially if the consumer is elderly or vulnerable.
What is a Catheter Fracture?
Catheter fracture is where the catheter loses its durability, and small fragments begin to degrade and fracture. When this happens, loose pieces of the catheter enter the bloodstream causing harm to blood vessels and possibly the heart and other organs.
Catheter breakage can be incredibly serious, causing permanent injuries and even death. A catheter fragment can cause a pulmonary embolism, blockage of the arteries, and damage lungs and heart.
Catheter fracture is usually because of a defective device. Medical devices should be made to withstand known pressures and should be safe for their intended purpose. If you have suffered a device fracture, then you should contact a catheter injury attorney as soon as possible.
What Happens if a Port Gets Infected?
Intravascular catheter-related infections are the most common complication. The first signs of an infection are swelling and redness around the port, a high temperature, and feelings of breathlessness and dizziness.
Although infections can occur for a variety of reasons, sometimes it is due to a defective device degrading, causing small fractures in the catheter where bacteria can breed. These cases tend to be more severe and are often not easily treated with antibiotics. Instead, the device may need to be removed.
Infections vary widely in severity, but for vulnerable consumers of port catheters, they can be serious. The worse infections can lead to sepsis and even death. If you have lost a loved one because of a defective port catheter, then you may be owed compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.
How Can Port Catheters Cause Blood Clots?
When a catheter is inserted into a vein, it can cause the vein wall to become irritated and inflamed, causing small blood clots. Blood clots from port catheters are often treated easily with medicine, but more serious cases can require the removal of the device.
Blood clots can sometimes travel through the vein to other parts of the body, where they become serious. In the most severe cases, blood clots can cause heart attack, stroke, deep venous thrombosis (a blood clot deep in the vein of the pelvis, leg, or arm), or arterial thrombosis (blood clots that form in the heart or brain).
Blood clots are sometimes caused by a defective medical device that has degraded and fractured. If you are unsure, then you should seek a free consultation with a catheter injury lawyer who can determine whether you might have a valid claim for compensation.
What is a Pulmonary Embolism?
A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that becomes stuck in the artery in the lung and blocks blood flow. This can damage lung tissue, restrict blood flow, and damage other organs, causing permanent injury or even death.
A pulmonary embolism can also cause Pneumothorax or hemothorax (collapsed lung). The incidence of pneumothorax is highest with subclavian vein catheterization and may be due to physician error or a defective device.
Pulmonary embolism is often caused by catheter migration or catheter fracture, which could be the result of a defective product.
What is a Blocked Line?
A catheter can become blocked, either partially or completely, making treatment difficult. Often, the blockage can be easily cleared, but more complex cases may require the removal of the device.
A blocked catheter can be caused by many things and could be a sign of a defective device that has led to a blood clot.
What are the Potential Complications When Having a Port Removed?
Catheter removal is usually a straightforward procedure. While you should expect some bruising and swelling around the area where the port was removed, symptoms should improve over 3-5 days.
However, if you have been a victim of a defective medical device, then you may experience further complications. If your symptoms do not improve, you notice bleeding or drainage from your incision, or you begin to experience fever or chills, then you should seek medical attention immediately. If you experience any complications after the removal of your port catheter, then the sooner you are treated, the better.
Who is Responsible For Port-a-Cath Injuries?
When port catheter injuries are caused by defective medical devices, the manufacturer may be responsible. It is essential that medical device manufacturers take steps to ensure that their products are safe for consumers and should reinforce their products to prevent degradation.
Claims against medical device manufacturers are never easy; they have large legal teams to limit their liability. The only way to level the playing field is to seek your own representation from a catheter injury attorney.
What Damages Could I Claim For an Implanted Port Injury?
A catheter lawsuit lawyer can help you claim compensation for damages resulting from the negligence of a medical device manufacturer. Damages include medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for your emotional pain and suffering.
When determining how much compensation you are owed, it is essential that both your past expenses and your future expenses and losses are considered. That may involve drawing upon expert testimony to determine what the costs of your future medical expenses could be.
It is also important that both your economic and your non-economic damages are considered. Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for your emotional suffering, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment in life. If your injuries mean that you will not be able to live your life in the same way you did before, then this should be reflected in your settlement.
Can I Claim Compensation if I Have Lost a Loved One Due to a Port Catheter Injury?
If you have lost a family member due to a port catheter injury, then you may be able to claim compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. While no amount of money can begin to make up for your loss, you should not have to suffer financially because of the negligent actions of a medical device manufacturer.
In a wrongful death lawsuit, you may be able to claim compensation for funeral expenses, loss of income to family households, and pain and suffering damages. Pain and suffering damages are designed to compensate you for your loss of companionship and emotional suffering.
At Holman Schiavone, LLC, we understand how challenging these cases can be and will take over the legal battle on your behalf and fight tirelessly to seek justice in your case.
How is Liability Established After a Catheter Injury?
If you have been injured because of a port catheter device, then you may be owed compensation. In order to have a successful claim, your catheter lawsuit attorney will need to establish liability by proving that the medical device manufacturer behaved negligently.
Medical device manufacturers owe consumers of their products a duty of care, this means that they must take adequate measures to ensure that their products are safe for their intended use. If they act differently from how a reasonable company would, given similar circumstances, then they have behaved negligently.
For example, if a medical device manufacturer fails to properly test their product before making it available to consumers, then this could be considered negligence. It is reasonable to expect that a medical device manufacturer would carry out proper testing of their products to ensure that they are safe.
Do I Need a Catheter Lawsuit Lawyer to Secure Compensation?
You have a right to pursue compensation without the help of a catheter lawsuit attorney. However, it is usually in victims’ best interests to secure compensation. Winning a claim against a large medical device manufacturer takes considerable evidence, drawn-out negotiations with other legal teams, and legal formalities that are best handled by an attorney.
Lawsuits against medical device manufacturers can be intimidating; these are multi-billion dollar corporations with large legal teams and a wealth of resources to draw upon. It is important that you have representation from an attorney who has experience in these types of cases and understands how best to handle your case. Generally, victims who have experienced representation end up with a higher settlement than those who don’t, even when legal fees are considered.
Your catheter lawsuit lawyer will gather evidence, work out how much you are owed, file paperwork, liaise with other attorneys, and will be prepared to take your case to trial if necessary. When an experienced attorney takes over your case, you can focus on what’s important – your physical and mental recovery.
Why Should I Seek Legal Representation From Holman Schiavone, LLC?
If you have suffered an injury because of a port catheter device, then you need experienced representation. Holman Schiavone, LLC is dedicated to personal injury victims in Kansas City and the surrounding areas of Kansas and Missouri. We offer experienced representation and are unafraid to go up against large corporations to win justice for our clients.
When a personal injury case involves large medical device manufacturers, it is important that your attorney is a skilled litigator. Other attorneys know who is willing to fight them in court and who is not, and this can have a big impact on how much they are willing to offer in a settlement.
At Holman Schiavone, LLC, we have a long history of success litigating on behalf of our clients. We are always prepared to take a case to court and will always strive for maximum compensation.
We pride ourselves on our approach to the attorney-client relationship; we take the time to understand your situation and make sure that both the short-term and long-term consequences of your injury are considered in your settlement. That includes past and future medical expenses and lost wages, and the long-term effects on your mental health.
Seek a Free Consultation With a Port Catheter Injury Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love has been injured by a defective port catheter device, then you may be owed compensation.
When you secure representation from Holman Schiavone, LLC, we will get to work quickly to gather strong evidence. We will fight tirelessly to secure the justice you deserve and to put pressure on medical device manufacturers to improve their practices and protect future consumers.
We offer a free consultation, so contact us today 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.
