An IVC filter is a medical device that is often placed in a person’s body to prevent pulmonary embolus. Doctors use these devices when discovering blood clots in a person’s veins. Blood clots pose the potential threat of breaking free and becoming lodged in a person’s lungs, which is potentially fatal. The filter is placed in the inferior vena cava, which is a large blood vessel located in a person’s abdomen that brings blood to the lungs. Its purpose is to catch any clots that break free from reaching the lungs.

The IVC filter is surgically placed into a person in a procedure via a needle inserted into a person’s neck or groin. Although generally seen as a relatively low risk procedure, problems such as bleeding and infection can occur. The clinically proven and recognized purpose for this product is to prevent blood clots in deep veins, a condition known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), from breaking free in a person that cannot use typical blood clot treatments, such as blood thinners and anti-clotting agents. DVT generally occurs in veins located in a person’s legs or pelvis.

Recently, studies have shown that a significant amount of IVC filters have been defective. In the defective devices, pieces of the metal device often become detached, causing them to travel into areas and often strike vital organs. These devices, brands such as the Recovery TM and G2TM IVC Filters, have been commonly used in filter procedures.

The defective IVC Filter can cause sudden chest pain in the area near where it is placed. A person experiencing such signs should immediately contact authorized medical personnel, who can determine whether it is causing such problems using a CT Scan.

Defective IVC Filters can lead to undue pain, additional surgery, and permanent damage to internal organs. Although surgery might be able to fix the problems caused, often surgery is not a viable option due to the stress placed on an internal organ in such a procedure.

If you have been injured as a result of a defective IVC Filter, you should contact an experienced attorney practicing in medical malpractice cases, specifically someone with experience in these lawsuits. This is such a new area of law that we are only aware of two attorneys in the nation that actually have had any success with these cases.

Michael Helfand is a Chicago attorney who runs a lawyer referral website. For more information he suggests that you visit http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/IVC-Filter-Lawsuit-Attorneys.htm