Port catheters are common pieces of medical equipment that are used for a variety of treatments, including life-saving procedures such as administering chemotherapy in cancer patients and removing blood clots in sufferers of acute ischemic stroke.
New models of port catheters frequently enter the market to make treatments more efficient and more comfortable for patients. However, in recent years there have been a number of models recalled due to defective products, resulting in hundreds of serious injuries and deaths, many of which were preventable.
It is essential that medical device manufacturers adhere to high standards of care so that defective medical devices never make their way to consumers. If any unforeseen issues arise, it is also important that they act quickly to recall their products and prevent future harm. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, and it requires pressure from victims and their attorneys before the change is made.
If you or someone in your family has suffered an injury or death from a port catheter, you could be owed compensation. At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, we offer a free consultation with a St. Louis, personal injury lawyer who will assess your case and determine whether you could have a claim. We will then advise you on your next steps so you can make an informed decision.
We are committed to representing victims of defective medical devices and will fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a catheter lawsuit attorney at 816-320-6108.
Do I Need a St Louis, MO Port Catheter Injury Lawyer To Pursue Compensation
All victims of personal injury have a right to pursue compensation without an attorney. However, medical manufacturers are multi-billion dollar corporations with large legal teams that have a wealth of experience fighting against any claims that are brought against them. This can make filing a catheter lawsuit overwhelming without legal representation.
When you hire a catheter lawsuit attorney, you level the playing field. An experienced attorney will do a thorough investigation, collect substantial evidence, and will fight for a settlement figure that is truly representative of your suffering. They will take over the entire legal process, including establishing liability and negotiating a fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, then they will be prepared to fight for your rights in front of a Judge.
Most personal injury claims that are represented by an attorney result in a higher settlement for the victim even after legal fees are considered, thanks to the experience and resources that an attorney offers.
What is a Port-a-Cath Device?
Port-a-cath devices have various names, including port catheters, implanted port device, and venous port system. There are different models of port catheters that are designed for different procedures, but they are defined by being made up of two parts:
- Port – A small device that connects to the catheter. It is usually inserted beneath the skin of the chest.
- Catheter – A soft and flexible tube, usually made of silicone, that enters the vein.
The most frequently used port-a-cath devices are used to administer medicine and take blood samples in patients who require ongoing treatment, including cancer patients, oncology patients, and hematology patients. They remove the need for lots of needles, allow treatments that last longer than a day, and allow patients to move around and even leave the hospital with the device left in. These models of port catheters are designed to last for days, weeks, or even years.
Another type of port catheter is designed for sufferers of acute ischemic stroke in order to remove blood clots. These are referred to as aspiration catheters and are made to be used just once.
Which Port Catheter Devices Have Been Recalled?
The FDA has received reports considering various models of port catheter devices. If you or someone in your family has suffered an injury from a port catheter, then you should seek a free case evaluation with Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, and find out if you could be owed compensation.
Some recent models of port catheters that have been recalled include:
Bard PowerPort and Bard MRI Implantable Port
Bard is a medical manufacturer that specializes in urology, vascular, surgery, and oncology devices. In March 2021, they voluntarily recalled two configurations of their port catheter devices, the Bard PowerPort and the Bard MRI Implantable Port.
The Bard PowerPort and Bard MRI Implantable Port were designed for patients requiring repeated access to the vascular system. The port systems were used for infusion of medications, I.V. fluids, blood products, parenteral nutrition solutions, and for blood withdrawal.
However, there were numerous reports of device failure. The catheter has been reported to degrade due to flex fatigue, causing fracture and migration. The Bard PowerPort and Bard MRI Implantable Port were unable to withstand the pressures of their intended use, and as a result, victims suffered serious injuries, including:
- Lacerations to blood vessels.
- Cardiac arrhythmia.
- Hematomas.
- Pulmonary embolism.
- Blood infections.
- Cardiac Punctures.
- Blood clots.
- Sepsis.
- Death.
If you or someone you love suffered an injury from a Bard port catheter device, you may be owed compensation. You should seek a free consultation as soon as possible to find out if Bard could be liable.
Penumbra JET 7 Xrtra Flex Catheter
The Penumbra Jet 7 Xtra Flex is a single-use aspiration catheter used to remove blood clots in victims of acute ischemic stroke.
Penumbra is a global medical manufacturer focused on innovative therapies that address challenging medical conditions. They released their first aspiration catheter in 2007, and it was considered to be a revolutionary device. Since, they have released numerous configurations of Jet 7 Catheters.
Not long after the release of the Jet 7 Xtra Flex Catheter, there began to be complaints of catheter failure. There were several reports of the distal dip becoming damaged during use and causing serious injury and death. Penumbra issued an urgent voluntary recall in December 2020.
Despite the Jet 7 Xtra Flex Catheter being designed to withstand contrast injection and pressurization, when used for its intended purpose, there were cases of ballooning, rupture, expansion, complete separation, and exposure of internal support coils.
These complications caused severe injuries, including:
- Cerebral infarction.
- Hemorrhage.
- Vessel damage.
- Death.
So far, there have been more than 200 reports of injury and death from the Penumbra Jet 7 Xtra Flex Catheter. If you or someone you love has suffered, then you should contact a catheter lawsuit attorney and begin seeking justice as soon as possible.
What is Catheter Migration?
Catheter migration occurs when the catheter becomes separated from the port. The catheter may then move to other parts of the body and cause serious harm. If the catheter remains whole and does not fracture or break, then it should be easily retrieved, but that does not prevent it from causing harm before it can be removed. Catheter migration is often due to a defective product.
What is Catheter Fracture?
Catheter fracture happens when the catheter degrades, and small pieces come loose and enter the bloodstream. This can lead to serious injury to blood vessels, the heart, and other organs. It can also cause blood clots leading to blocked arteries or pulmonary embolism.
The fractured catheter can also lead to serious infection as the space created is a perfect place for bacteria to develop.
Catheter fracture is often more serious than catheter migration as small fragments cannot be retrieved as easily. Catheter fracture is often due to a defective product, as medical devices should be able to withstand use for their intended purpose.
Potential Injuries From an Implanted Port
Catheter migration and catheter fracture are two common ways that a defective port catheter device can fail. The results can be permanent, life-changing injuries, and victims should seek representation from a catheter lawsuit attorney to ensure that they are properly compensated.
Some of the injuries caused by defective port-a-cath devices include (but are not limited to):
Infection
The most common injury from a port catheter device is infection. Mild infections can cause redness, swelling, and a high temperature and can be treated with antibiotics. However, more serious infections may require device removal and can result in life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.
Defective catheters such as Bard PowerPort devices have been reported to degrade while in the vein. This can cause catheter fractures where bacteria can build up.
Blood Clots
When a catheter is inserted into the vein, it can irritate the vein wall, leading to blood clots. These blood clots can often be treated with medicine, but in more serious cases, the device may need to be removed.
A fractured catheter can also lead to vein wall irritation and inflammation, resulting in blood clots. If a consumer has a defective device, then it will need to be removed. Blood clots can become incredibly serious if they move to other parts of the body, sometimes causing a stroke or heart attack. If you suffered a preventable blood clot because of a defective device, then you may be able to claim compensation.
Blocked Line
One risk of blood clots is a blocked catheter, making treatment difficult. Sometimes the blockage can be easily cleared by medical professionals, but if the device has begun to degrade, then it will need to be removed.
Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism is a condition where a blood clot becomes trapped in the artery of the lung, blocking blood flow. A pulmonary embolism can damage lung tissue and cause dangerously low blood oxygen levels. The resulting injuries can be permanent or even life-threatening. A pulmonary embolism can sometimes be the result of a defective product.
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a medical condition that causes air to leak into the space between the chest wall and the lung, causing the lung to collapse. Pneumothorax as a result of a port catheter is sometimes the result of a defective device and therefore preventable.
What Damages Can I Claim in a St Louis Catheter Injury Lawsuit?
If a medical manufacturer is at-fault for your injuries, then they may be liable for your damages. The value of your damages determines how much compensation you are owed, and they should income both your economic and non-economic losses.
Working out damages in a product liability lawsuit against a medical manufacturer can be highly complex as it is necessary to calculate what damages you may have suffered from your pre-existing injuries and what injuries you have suffered as a result of a corporation’s negligent actions. An experienced attorney may draw upon expert testimony to determine a settlement figure that is difficult to dispute.
Potential damages you could claim in a Missouri catheter injury lawsuit include:
Lost Wages
Most injuries result in some time being taken away from work, resulting in lost income. In a catheter injury lawsuit, you should be able to claim back lost wages and lost earning potential if your injuries prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity.
Medical Bills
One of the biggest financial concerns for victims of serious personal injury is medical bills and expenses. If the injuries are severe, then your health insurance company may not cover everything, leaving you with hospital bills, prescription costs, and other expenses such as transport to and from appointments.
A successful claim should include the recovery of all medical expenses, both past, and future. Your personal injury lawyer should have access to medical experts who can determine what your future costs could look like.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering is the legal term for the emotional suffering caused by a personal injury. These damages are the most challenging to evidence, but an experienced catheter lawsuit attorney will know how to calculate pain and suffering damages so that they are difficult to dispute.
Wrongful Death
If you have lost a loved one because of a defective port catheter device, then you may be owed compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawsuit will allow you to claim pain and suffering damages, as well as compensation for your financial losses. Financial losses could include your loved ones’ medical bills, funeral expenses, or loss of income to a family household.
Contact Holman Schiavone Law LLC For a Free Consultation in St Louis, MO
At Holman Schiavone Law, LLC, our law firm is committed to providing compassionate and experienced representation for victims of catheter injuries. Our team is comprised of skilled litigators, which means that we are always prepared to take a case to court, even when that involves fighting against large medical manufacturers and their legal teams.
Insurance defense attorneys know which personal injury attorneys are likely to take them to court and who aren’t, and this can have a huge impact on how much they are willing to offer in a settlement. Therefore our long history of success in litigation for personal injury victims could be a deicing factor in how much compensation is secured in your case.
We take a personalized approach to the attorney-client relationship, which means that we take the time to understand the effect your injuries have had and will continue to have on your life. This enables us to fight for a settlement that truly represents your pain and suffering and your financial burdens.
Utilizing our many years of experience, a wealth of resources, and compassionate approach, we will fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation in your case. At the same time, we will put pressure on medical manufacturers to ensure higher standards in the future.
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.
