Are Port Catheters Linked to Blood Clots & Pulmonary Embolism?

Defective Bard PowerPort port catheters have been linked to blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis in patients. These conditions can be severe and life-threatening. If you or your loved one suffered an injury caused by a faulty medical device, you may qualify for financial compensation.

A Las Vegas Product Liability Lawyer with our firm can help you take legal action if you develop any of the common complications associated with port catheters.

Faulty Port Catheters Are Linked to Severe and Life-Threatening Medical Conditions

A port catheter, or a port-a-cath, is a medical device that gives patients intravenous medications or fluids. The port-a-cath is surgically implanted, and the catheter delivers the fluid or medicine from the port directly into a large vein (usually the jugular vein, subclavian vein, or superior vena cava). Port catheters are commonly used to provide chemotherapy to patients with cancer.

Because port catheters deliver medicine or fluids directly into a vein, there is a risk of blood clots and pulmonary embolism. Recently, there have been a series of lawsuits filed against Bard Access Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Becton, Dickinson and Company, alleging that its Bard PowerPort causes these severe medical conditions.

The suits allege that several models of Bard port catheters contain manufacturing defects that cause parts of the device to break loose and enter a patient’s veins, leading to blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and other severe medical conditions. You may have grounds for a product liability lawsuit if you or your loved one have a Bard port catheter and experienced one or more of the following catheter-related complications:

Blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pulmonary embolism
Tissue, vessel, or organ perforation
Infection (sepsis)
Hemorrhaging or bleeding problems

You can seek justice for catheter dysfunction. Our team will file a lawsuit on your behalf if you were harmed by the negative effects of an implantable port.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

What Are the Signs of a Blood Clot or Pulmonary Embolism?

Blood clotting is an essential and natural bodily function that prevents excessive bleeding. However, clots can be dangerous and life-threatening when they develop abnormally inside a vein.

When a clot occurs inside a deep vein, which can happen due to port catheter defects or catheter dysfunction, it can cause deep vein thrombosis in patients. When a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clot dislodges, it can travel through the heart and into the lungs, preventing adequate blood flow and leading to a pulmonary embolism. According to the American Society of Hematology, as many as 900,000 Americans suffer from deep vein thrombosis.

Symptoms You May Experience Because of Catheter Issues

A pulmonary embolism can be fatal, so those experiencing the condition must seek treatment immediately. You should see a doctor right away if you experience any of the following, especially if you have a port catheter linked to blood clots and pulmonary embolism:

Shortness of breath
Chest pains
Fainting
Coughing
Coughing up blood or blood mucus
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fever
Excessive sweating
Leg pain or swelling
Clammy or discolored skin

Can You Seek Compensation for Implantable Port Catheter Injuries?

Bard PowerPort lawsuits allege that the company’s defective port catheters fracture and migrate, causing blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and other health conditions. The suits also allege that Bard knew about complications with its port-a-caths and failed to alert the public.

If you have a medical condition caused by a faulty Bard port catheter, a personal injury lawyer with our law firm can help you with a product liability lawsuit to recover compensation for the following:

Medical bills. You should not have to pay for bills caused by a defective medical device. We can help you recover the cost of your medical treatment, including emergency services, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and long-term nursing.
Lost income. If your port catheter injury prevents you from working, you can recover your back pay and lost employment benefits. If you suffered a permanent or disabling injury, we can seek compensation for your lost earning capacity.
Pain and suffering. You can pursue monetary awards for intangible losses related to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Also called non-economic damages, this type of compensation may include awards for scarring, disfigurement, stress, depression, mental anguish, emotional distress, inconvenience, and lost quality of life.
Wrongful death. If your loved one suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism or died from another port catheter complication, our firm’s wrongful death lawyers can seek compensation on behalf of their estate and surviving family members. Awards may include medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of your loved one’s support and services, and other economic and non-economic damages.
Punitive damages. In rare cases, when the court determines a defendant acted intentionally, with malice, or is grossly negligent, it may award the plaintiff punitive damages. Though paid to those harmed, they are intended to punish the defendant and deter future wrongdoing.

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How Can You Pursue a Defective Port Catheter Case?

Patients harmed by Bard PowerPort catheters have already joined to begin a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the manufacturer of defective port-a-caths. An MDL allows plaintiffs from various locations harmed in the same manner by the same defendant to band together to seek compensation. The legal process is more efficient for the courts and can lead to more equitable verdicts for those involved.

A catheter injury lawyer from our team can help you proceed with your case and join an MDL. However, you do not have unlimited time to act. There are statutes of limitations that will apply. We can tell you more about the legal deadlines that may affect your claim for compensation and help you get started before it is too late.

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Do You Need a Product Liability Attorney?

Defective medical device cases often involve complex medical and legal issues. While you can attempt to join an MDL and litigate your case yourself, working with a mass torts attorney from our firm with experience in medical device product liability may be less stressful.

While you rest and recover from your port-a-cath injury, our legal team can put their resources and case knowledge behind getting the awards you need and deserve. We will prove Bard is liable for your damages and fight for fair compensation. We will also manage paperwork, deadlines, communications, and case details.

Contact Van Law for a Free Consultation About Catheter-Related Complications

If you or your loved one has an injury, blood clot, or pulmonary embolism linked to port catheters, contact Van Law today for a free consultation. We can tell you more about how a product liability lawyer with our firm can help you pursue compensation with a Bard PowerPort lawsuit. We take cases on contingency, so our services will cost you nothing upfront or out of pocket.

No obligation consultations are always free.

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