Injury Cases Against Bard and Other Defective Port Catheters

The Hughes & Coleman team is now evaluating injury cases involving implanted port catheters manufactured by Bard and other companies. These vital medical devices are designed to simplify the process of accessing veins to administer lifesaving medication, withdrawal fluid, or perform other forms of lifesaving care. However, rather than ease some of the burdens those with long term illnesses face, some port catheter devices have caused significant harm to patients. In this blog, we’ll delve into the role these medical devices play in certain treatments, the dangers of implanted port catheters, the fault that lies with the manufacturers who designed the products, and the pressing need for justice for those who have suffered due to corporate negligence. We will also discuss potential avenues that patients and their families can pursue to improve their quality of life and obtain the compensation they deserve by hiring an experienced port catheter injury attorney at Hughes & Coleman.

Implanted Port Catheter Use

Implanted port catheters are a lifeline for many patients, especially those battling cancer. These small central venous access ports are discreetly placed beneath the skin in the chest area and threaded along a vein. While they are often used to deliver cancer-fighting treatments, they have a multitude of other uses. Their primary purpose is to provide medical professionals with a convenient and reliable means of accessing veins for various treatments, such as:

Chemotherapy: A grueling but often necessary treatment for cancer patients.

Blood Transfusions: Vital for those with blood disorders, severe anemia, or undergoing other forms of treatment.

Blood Draws: Essential for monitoring patient health and treatment progress.

Antibiotic Treatments: Crucial for fighting infections in vulnerable individuals.

Other IV Treatments: This encompasses a wide range of therapies that can be administered through these ports.

How Implant Port Catheters Work

Implanted port catheters have been in use since the 90s, and they provide healthcare providers with an easier method of administering medications or blood draws than traditional IVs. Since their implementation, implanted port catheters have become a quality-of-life device used to reduce the need for unnecessary IV placements. Implanted port catheters are often a more comfortable long-term solution for those who will need ongoing treatment. They consist of a self-sealing material, usually silicone, that can endure multiple syringe punctures without compromising its functionality. A thin, flexible tube, known as a catheter, is threaded through a vein until it reaches a location near the heart. This catheter is then connected to the port, allowing medical professionals to conveniently inject or extract fluids directly into the bloodstream.

Widespread Adoption

Since their introduction in 1992, implantable port catheters have become indispensable in the world of healthcare. In the United States alone, approximately 5 million of these devices are implanted each year. As they grew in popularity, implanted port catheters would come to be used regularly to treat a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. However, widespread adaptation would follow a staggering number of complications stemming from the manufacturing process.

A Troubling Revelation

In 2022, a 10-year retrospective study revealed a startling truth – nearly 20 percent of patients with implanted port catheters would later suffer from some form of complication. Bard port catheters are manufactured with Barium Sulfate. This material can cause the device to break down, fracture, or migrate under the skin over time and can cause a multitude of complications ranging from minor inconveniences to life-threatening situations. This study has cast a shadow of doubt over the safety and reliability of these devices used by millions in the United States to deliver vital medical treatment. Patients with implanted port catheters have reported some of the following complications:

Infections: As port catheters break down, pores begin to form in the surface of the material. This can become a breeding ground for infections, endangering patients’ lives. The introduction of bacteria into an implanted port catheter can lead to sepsis or, in some instances, even death.

Catheter Malfunctions: Blockages or other catheter failures can disrupt vital treatments, which may require further medical and surgical intervention.

Blood Clots: The formation of blood clots or thrombosis around the catheter can lead to severe health issues. This includes Pulmonary Embolisms (PEs), Stroke, Ischemia (inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body), and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Any number of these complications can lead to a patient’s death.

Leakages: Leakage of fluids can occur, potentially causing damage to surrounding tissues.

Pain and Discomfort: As the devices break down or migrate under the skin, many patients experience chronic pain and discomfort due to their implanted port catheters.

Manufacturing Defects Lead to Harm

A majority of implanted port catheters can be traced back to a single company. Bard, the company responsible for creating most of the port catheters in use in the United States today, manufactures approximately 80 percent of all devices. Hughes & Coleman is currently investigating the following Bard products:

BardPort

Bard PowerPort

Bard SlimPort

Bard MRI Ports

Bard Groshong Catheter

Bard Titanium Low-Profile Port

Bard Vaccess CT

Bard X-Port ISP

According to allegations, Bard and its subsidiaries were aware their devices were prone to fracturing, fragmenting, or otherwise breaking down after implantation. However, rather than changing the design or searching for other materials to craft their devices, Bard continued manufacturing and distributing their products to consumers without making them aware of the potential risks.

Bard isn’t the only company under investigation. Other manufacturers have used similar designs to Bard’s products that can cause the same or similar types of complications. These manufacturers, including Angiodynamics/Navilyst, Smiths Deltec, Smiths Medical, MedComp, B. Braun, Cook, Covidien, and Teleflex, are also being closely monitored. If you or someone you know had a device implanted that was manufactured by any of these companies and later faced complications, seek an attorney with experience in handling cases against medical device manufacturers.

Seeking Justice

In the face of these alarming findings and the harm these devices have caused, Hughes & Coleman has taken up the cause to seek justice for those suffering from defective implanted port catheters. Patients deserve medical devices that enhance their quality of life, not endanger it. Those who were harmed due to faulty implant port catheters may be able to obtain compensation for their injuries, past or future medical care, lost wages or diminished earning capacity, and pain and suffering/mental anguish resulting from the faulty device. The port catheter injury attorneys at Hughes & Coleman are dedicated to obtaining maximum compensation for those harmed by Bard or other companies who may be responsible for causing further harm to those who were already suffering.

Contact A Port Catheter Injury Lawyer Today

We understand that those who are in a position of needing an implanted port catheter are likely already in a precarious financial situation. They often undergo chemotherapy for cancer treatment or other costly medical procedures, and they likely don’t have the means to afford an attorney’s fees upfront.

Port catheter injury victims already suffering from ongoing health issues shouldn’t need to worry about whether they can afford a defective medical device attorney to fight for them. That’s why our port catheter injury team at Hughes & Coleman works on a contingency fee. That means you won’t owe us anything unless we’re able to obtain compensation for you. We’ll handle the legal work, gather evidence, obtain medical records, and build your case while you focus on your health. You won’t pay anything if we’re unable to help, and there’s never any fee or obligation to hire us.

If you or a loved one suffered from complications following the use of a Bard implanted port catheter or another manufacturer’s port catheter device, we can help. Hughes & Coleman has been helping those in Kentucky and Tennessee harmed by dangerous medical devices for decades. We understand the physical and emotional strain a defective medical device can cause patients and their loved ones. Our team of compassionate legal professionals will fight for the compensation you deserve.

The widespread use of implanted port catheters underscores their critical role in modern medical treatment. However, the shocking revelation of the number of serious injuries these devices have caused cannot be overlooked. Hughes & Coleman is committed to holding Bard and other defendants accountable for their role in these devastating outcomes. Our mission is to ensure that patients receive the safe and effective healthcare they deserve.

Contact Hughes & Coleman today for a free port catheter injury case evaluation at 800-800-4600.