[2024 Update] Bard PowerPort Thrombosis Lawsuit

What Is the Bard PowerPort Device?

The Bard Powerport is a type of port catheter developed and manufactured by Bard Access Systems Inc.

Bard PowerPort devices facilitate intravenous treatments, giving physicians an easy access point for drug infusions.

Due to the catheter’s placement on key blood vessels, Bard PowerPorts have also been used to obtain blood samples.

Implanting a Bard PowerPort is surgical, so the procedure is performed while the patient is under general or local anesthesia.

Physicians would select a suitable site based on the patient’s condition and incise near the site to create a subcutaneous pocket.

The subcutaneous pocket is where the physician would install the implant.

The physician then sutures the port catheter in place to prevent it from being dislodged.

Once installed, the Bard PowerPort device becomes the entry point for infusion systems.

Patients can then receive medications through the port catheter.

What are Port Catheters Used For?

Port catheter devices are crucial medical tools that provide consistent and direct access to a patient’s vascular system, streamlining the administration of long-term treatments such as chemotherapy or frequent intravenous therapies.

Their design minimizes the need for repeated needle sticks, making treatments more comfortable for the patient while reducing potential complications from multiple venous punctures.

Efficient Long-Term Drug Treatments

One of the features of port catheter devices is its ability to enhance the precision and efficiency of intravenous treatments.

For patients requiring therapies like chemotherapy, accurate administration of medications is highly important.

The Bard PowerPort aims to ensure that healthcare providers can precisely deliver medications and treatments, minimizing the margin for error.

This precision enhances the effectiveness of the treatment and contributes to a more targeted approach, potentially reducing side effects and improving overall outcomes.

Comfortable Therapy for Patients

Traditionally, repeated needle sticks for intravenous treatments can cause discomfort and anxiety for patients.

A port catheter device alleviates this burden significantly.

Once implanted, it provides a stable and easily accessible entry point for medical procedures.

The convenience of having a reliable access point just beneath the skin translates into a more comfortable experience, reducing the stress and apprehension often linked with regular medical treatments.

Preserving Vein Health and Ensuring Long-Term Access

Prolonged use of traditional intravenous access methods can lead to vein damage, making it challenging for medical professionals to find suitable veins for future treatments.

Port catheters mitigate this concern by preserving the integrity of the patient’s veins.

With a catheter connected to a major vein, the wear and tear on peripheral veins are minimized.

This preservation of vein health ensures long-term access for necessary medical procedures.

It also enhances the patient’s overall vascular well-being, which is a crucial aspect for individuals undergoing extended treatment regimens.

Who Uses the Bard PowerPort Implantable Port Catheter?

Many patients and physicians have used the Bard PowerPort implantable port catheter, including:

• Cancer patients
• Patients with chronic conditions
• Long-term therapy recipients
• Elderly patients
• Pediatric patients

Bard PowerPort Complications: What is Wrong with Bard PowerPort Devices?

Many patients have filed Bard PowerPort Lawsuits due to various complications arising from defective Bard PowerPort products.

Many of these complications occur as a result of catheter migration.

Catheter migration happens when the implant or a fragment of it breaks and travels to the bloodstream.

The Bard PowerPort device utilized a polyurethane and barium sulfate material to form the structure of the port catheter device.

Lawsuits claim that the polyurethane and barium sulfate particles can detach from the catheter, leading to an increased risk for catheter fracture and migration.

As the implant or fragment travels to numerous blood vessels, it can reach a bottleneck and obstruct blood flow.

With the blood flow obstructed, blood clots can develop and cause further blockage, leading to the following complications:

• Catheter fractures
• Catheter migration
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Damage to veins and blood vessels
• Catheter infection and necrosis
• Blood clots
• Arterial puncture
• Heart attack or myocardial infarction
• Hematoma or hemorrhage
• Hemothorax
• Pulmonary pseudoaneurysm
• Pulmonary embolism
• Tachycardia
• Collapsed lung
• Stroke
• Other serious injuries

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

One of the complications potentially associated with defective Bard PowerPorts and catheter migration is deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Deep vein thrombosis — commonly abbreviated as DVT — is a serious medical condition characterized by the formation of blood clots in deep veins, typically in the legs.

Blood clots impede normal blood flow, causing discomfort and posing severe health risks.

DVT can arise due to various factors, including prolonged immobility, genetic predisposition, or specific medical conditions.

It can also occur due to the presence of foreign objects like fragments from an implanted port catheter fracture.

DVT is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention.

If left untreated, it can lead to more severe complications such as pulmonary embolism, where blood clots travels to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening situation.

How DVT or Pulmonary Embolism Occurs After a Catheter Migration

DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein.

In the context of the Bard PowerPort implant, the presence of the catheter inside a major vein can sometimes trigger the formation of these clots.

When an intravenous catheter, like those used with the Bard PowerPort, moves from its intended position, it can damage local vascular system walls.

This damage triggers the body’s clotting mechanism, leading to the formation of blood clots.

These clots can travel to various blood vessels.

Catheter-related DVT is a serious concern, especially for patients who are reliant on intravenous therapies.

Detecting and addressing catheter migration promptly is essential to prevent complications such as DVT.

Signs and Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Detecting DVT early is vital to prevent severe complications.

Common signs and symptoms of DVT include the following:

• Leg swelling
• Pain or tenderness in the affected leg
• Reddish and warm skin.

In the worst-case scenario, other signs and symptoms of DVT are sudden and unexplained shortness of breath and chest pain.

These indicate that a clot has traveled to the lungs, causing a potentially life-threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism.

Complications of DVT

Complications arising from DVT can be severe.

If a clot dislodges and travels to vital organs like the lungs, it can lead to pulmonary embolism, causing breathing difficulties and chest pain.

In some cases, DVT might result in chronic conditions like post-thrombotic syndrome, where severe and persistent pain and swelling occur on an affected leg.

Complications of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include:

• Pulmonary Embolism (PE): A potentially life-threatening condition where a blood clot breaks off from the DVT site and travels to the lungs, obstructing blood flow.
• Post-Thrombotic Syndrome: Chronic symptoms after a DVT, including pain, swelling, and skin discoloration in the affected limb, often due to venous insufficiency.
• Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens: A severe form of DVT that leads to extreme swelling and bluish discoloration of the limb due to major vein occlusion.
• Phlegmasia Alba Dolens: Another severe form of DVT causing limb swelling and whiteness due to arterial compromise from venous outflow obstruction.
• Venous Gangrene: Tissue death caused by decreased blood flow from significant venous obstruction, which can lead to the need for amputation.
• Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A condition where the veins do not efficiently return blood from the lower limbs back to the heart, leading to swelling, skin changes, and ulcers.
• Superficial Vein Thrombosis: The spread or extension of the clot into the superficial venous system.
• Recurrent DVT: The development of another DVT after a previous occurrence, which increases the risk of other complications.
• Compartment Syndrome: Increased pressure within one of the body’s compartments, usually the leg, caused by swelling after DVT, which can reduce blood flow and damage muscles and nerves.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of DVT are essential to minimize these complications and improve patient outcomes.

Treating Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

The primary goal of DVT treatment is to prevent the blood clot from growing larger and to stop it from breaking off and traveling to the lungs or other vital organs.

Common treatments and management approaches for DVT include:

• Blood Thinners (Anticoagulants): Anticoagulant medications — commonly known as blood thinners — are often prescribed to prevent the clot from getting larger and to reduce the risk of new clots forming. These medications do not dissolve existing clots, but prevent further clotting. Often, patients need to take blood thinners for three to six months. While on medication, patients must undergo frequent blood work for physicians to monitor improvements.
• Compression Stockings: Compression stockings are specially designed to help improve blood circulation in the legs. They exert pressure on the legs, assisting the veins and leg muscles in moving blood more efficiently. Wearing compression stockings can alleviate swelling and reduce the risk of complications like post-thrombotic syndrome.
• Elevation and Movement: Keeping the affected leg elevated can help reduce swelling. Additionally, staying physically active — within the limits prescribed by the healthcare provider — can prevent blood from pooling in the veins and decrease the risk of clot formation.
• Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis: In some cases, physicians may perform a catheter-directed thrombolysis procedure. During this procedure, a catheter is threaded through an injection port near the site of the clot. A physician then delivers blood-thinning medications directly to the clot to dissolve it more effectively.

Physicians will prescribe these treatments to continue for months.

Due to the duration of treatment, DVT management doesn’t just reduce a patient’s quality of life — the treatment can also be expensive.

Worse yet, these treatments of DVT don’t guarantee results.

In the worst-case scenario where part of a PowerPort implant has traveled to a blood vessel, surgical intervention may be necessary.

Surgical Removal of a Fractured PowerPort Implant

If a Bard PowerPort Device is the direct cause of DVT, surgical removal might be necessary.

Surgical removal involves a carefully planned procedure where the implant is extracted, eliminating the source of the clotting problem.

This intervention is crucial to prevent recurrent DVT episodes and to ensure the patient’s safety.

Surgical intervention can eliminate the root cause of blood clots.

Unfortunately, like most surgeries involving the vascular system, surgical removal may be life-threatening.

Complications from surgery can include:

• Post-operative infections
• Bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Blood vessel damage
• The development of more blood clots

When bleeding and post-operative infection aren’t addressed, a patient can go into shock.

Nerve damage from surgery may be extensive, potentially becoming irreversible.

Do You Qualify for a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?

Complications arising from a fractured and defective PowerPort can lead to life-threatening infections, shock, blood flow blockages, and even breathing problems from pulmonary embolism.

Injured patients are filing Bard PowerPort Lawsuits against the manufacturer.

If you or loved one were injured by a Bard PowerPort device, you may be eligible to file a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit.

Contact TorHoerman Law’s Bard PowerPort Lawyers for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify to file a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit instantly.

Experienced Bard PowerPort lawyers will help victims throughout the legal process, completing steps such as gathering evidence and assessing damages.

Gathering Evidence for the Bard PowerPort Lawsuit

Evidence is extremely important for product liability lawsuits, especially for lawsuits alleging defects on medical devices.

Your Bard PowerPort lawyer will help you gather evidence for your case.

Common Bard PowerPort lawsuit evidence includes:

• Medical bills
• Other receipts associated with costs
• Medical records
• Treatment information
• Employment records
• Written or video personal accounts of injury
• Photos and videos of injury progression
• Testimony from witnesses, such as loved ones

Assessing Damages in Bard PowerPort Lawsuits

Damages refer to the total amount of losses, economic and non-economic, incurred as a result of catheter failure.

Your lawyer will help you assess and calculate damages.

Potential Damages in a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit may include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Therapy costs
• Lost wages or lost earning capability
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional damages
• Other compensatory and punitive damages

TorHoerman Law: Your Experienced Lawyers for the Bard PowerPort Lawsuits

Our team of dedicated attorneys, with more than 100 years of combined litigation experience, have helped clients win more than $4 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements for injuries suffered at no fault of their own.

If you or a loved one were injured by Bard PowerPort devices, you may be eligible to file a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit against the medical device manufacturer.

Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit instantly.

Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis – so our clients don’t pay any legal fees unless they are awarded compensation for their injuries & other losses.

Reach out to us if you were injured by a defective device. We’re here to help you.