A story from WNDU out of Indiana concerns a woman who needed surgery because a filter implanted in one of her veins to prevent blood clots broke apart.
Susan Karnstedt first became aware that something was wrong when she began suffering severe abdominal pain, the story says. She initially thought it was something she’d eaten.
But a CT scan revealed that the problem was actually an IVC filter she’d had implanted 18 years earlier because of a clotting disorder.
The IVC filter is a small, cage-like device implanted in a major vein that runs from the legs to the heart, designed to catch blood clots before they travel to the lungs. The FDA has issued a warning that IVC filters left in for too long can migrate in the body and pieces can break off.
That proved to be the case with Karnstedt, according to the story. Fragments of the broken IVC filter were perforating her small intestine.
The surgery to remove Karnstedt’s filter, which doctors deemed necessary, was ultimately successful. But the story notes that the operation was risky because scar tissue had formed around it in her vein.
The story quotes Dr. William T. Kuo, M.D., of Stanford University Medical Center as saying: “We’re starting to realize that the longer a device is left implanted, the more chance there is of a complication occurring.”
If you’ve received an IVC filter, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with an IVC filter lawyer to discuss your legal rights.
See the story here:
