Medical device manufacturer, Bard may be facing hundreds of lawsuits filed by people who suffered injury after implantation of a Bard PowerPort. Lawsuits claim that the device may have increased the risk of blood clot, infection and organ damage, including heart attack and stroke.
People who received a Bard PowerPort may be eligible for compensation.
What is a Bard PowerPort?
Bard PowerPorts are implantable catheters which are used to deliver fluids and medications into the blood veins. It may be implanted in patients who need regular, long-term IV access to deliver concentrated medications such as chemotherapy and antibiotics, and for those who need continuous administration of fluids.
Which Bard PowerPorts Have Been Named in Lawsuits?
A number of Bard PowerPorts have been specifically named in lawsuits including:
- PowerPort ClearVUE Implantable Port
- PowerPort ClearVUE ISP Implantable Port
- PowerPort ClearVUE Slim Implantable Port
- PowerPort ISP M.R.I Implantable Port
- PowerPort M.R.I Implantable Port
Who is Bard?
Bard is a medical device manufacturer formerly known as C.R. Bard. The company offers a number of urological, oncology, surgical and interventional devices including artificial joints, urinary catheters, and IV devices. Bard was acquired by medical device company, Becton Dickinson (BD) in 2017.
How Does a Bard PowerPort Work?
The Bard PowerPort is implanted underneath the skin. It contains a small reservoir and a catheter that is inserted into a large vein of the body. This allows easy access for IV injection and for tubing to be attached to deliver medications and fluids.
What Complications May Be Caused by Bard PowerPort?
When medications are delivered through the Bard PowerPort, increased fluid flow may create pressure inside the tubing. Increased pressure may cause the barium-sulfate tubing to fracture. This may result in ejection of pieces, or may increase the risk of clot formation or bacterial growth in the cracks.
Plastic fragments released into the blood stream may lodge in tissues downstream of the port. This may result in:
- Blood clot formation
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Heart attack
- Blood vessel rupture
- Stroke
- Pulmonary embolism
- Cardiac Puncture
- Severe pain
- Tearing or perforation of blood vessels
- Fluid collection around heart
Are There Other Side Effects of Bard PowerPort?
Other side effects from Bard PowerPort may include:
- Drainage at site of port location
- Inflammation
- Pain at port location
- Swelling
What Are the Symptoms of Serious Bard PowerPort Complications?
Symptoms of serious complications of the Bard PowerPort may include symptoms of:
- Heart attack – chest pain, arm numbness, shortness of breath, sweating and anxiety
- Stroke – confusion, communication difficulties, one-sided pain, numbness or weakness in arms or legs, severe headache, trouble walking
- Pulmonary embolism – sudden shortness of breath, sudden lung pain, dizziness, palpitations, coughing up blood, sweating and anxiety
- Infection – high fever, feelings of weakness or illness
Any of these symptoms or other severe symptoms may indicate serious complications and should be treated as an emergency.
Why Are People Filing Bard PowerPort Lawsuits?
People may be considering a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit if they have been injured or experienced serious complications after receiving a PowerPort implantable catheter.
Bard PowerPort Lawsuits claim that the catheters may increase the risk of complications due to:
- Catheter fracture
- Catheter Migration
- Infections
Lawsuits may claim that the design of the Bard PowerPort is faulty or that the materials used in the manufacture of the devices may make the port or catheter more likely to fracture and cause serious injury.
Bard has also been accused of failing to warn the public and medical professionals of the dangers of the PowerPorts.
How Many Lawsuits Have Been Filed?
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed in federal, state, and local courts. Some of these cases may be transferred to federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona which has over 116 cases as of April 2024.
Bellwether trials have not yet been scheduled and no settlements have been offered.
People who received a Bard PowerPort implantation and experienced serious complications including blood clot, infection, heart attack, stroke or other severe injury may be eligible for compensation.
