What to Expect in a TIVAD Lawsuit

Defective TIVAD ports, implanted medical devices used to administer medication directly to veins in a person’s body, have been linked to serious injuries and even death. Typically, the patients who rely on these devices already suffer from other illnesses, such as cancer. These patients need their TIVAD ports to work correctly to circulate medications and other fluids safely through their bodies.

Unfortunately, several TIVAD defects have led individuals and their families to file TIVAD lawsuits. If you or someone you love is looking to file a claim for a defective TIVAD port, you’ll want to know what to expect in a TIVAD lawsuit.

Why Is There a TIVAD Lawsuit?

Individuals and their families have started filing lawsuits for defective TIVAD ports prone to breakage. When the defective ports break, they can leak medication into a person’s body and cause infections. Serious injuries can arise from defective TIVAD ports, such as:

• Internal bleeding
• Sepsis
• Perforation of organs
• Death 

The first TIVAD lawsuit was filed by a cancer patient’s family after his TIVAD broke, leaking chemotherapy medications into his body. The Carlson Law Firm is helping other individuals and families pursue similar claims of injuries sustained from a broken or defective TIVAD. 

What Is a TIVAD Port?

Totally Implanted Venous Access Devices (TIVAD), also called TIVAD ports or Port-a-Caths, are medical devices that administer medication directly to the veins. Essentially, TIVAD ports are long, hollow tubes inserted into one of the large veins in a person’s body. One end of the tube is implanted in the person’s body, just above the heart, and the other end is attached to an injection port sitting just under the skin of a person’s upper arm or chest.

Who Uses TIVAD Ports?

TIVAD ports are typically used for patients who: 

• Need medicines that can irritate or harm smaller veins
• Need intravenous therapy, such as chemotherapy, over a long period of time
• Are experiencing pain and difficulty in accessing veins following intravenous chemotherapy
• Want an alternative to long-term venous devices that are visible and require dressings and frequent care

More specifically, TIVAD ports are commonly implanted in the following situations:

• Cancer patients who need long-term chemotherapy treatment
• Cancer patients suffering from serious pain from ongoing chemotherapy treatment
• Patients who require repeated blood samples, blood transfusions, or other intravenous medications
• Patients who require intravenous feeding, known as parenteral nutrition

What Are Common TIVAD Complications?

Even TIVAD ports that aren’t defective can result in complications that can lead to injury, surgical removal, or in some extreme cases, death. Some common TIVAD complications include:

• Ports can become infected, either in the area around the skin or in the bloodstream
• Blood clots can develop in the vein or along the route of the TIVAD in the body
• Port erosion can occur when the TIVAD wears thin or breaks the tissue above the port
• Lung punctures can happen when ports are placed in the chest
• Arterial puncture can cause bleeding 
• Extravasation is a leakage of medication from the TIVAD into the body
• Occlusion occurs when lines become blocked
• Reduced blood return may happen if the line isn’t cleared out correctly

What Are the Different TIVAD Defects?

Defective TIVAD ports can break and leak medication into patients’  bodies, causing serious injuries or death. However, not all TIVAD ports are created equally, so they don’t all have defects. Further, TIVAD ports can be defective for different reasons. 

Defective Design in Materials

One TIVAD defect stems from the materials used in some devices. Vortex Ports, a commonly-used TIVAD, is made of barium sulfate and silicone. Unfortunately, barium sulfate can degrade the silicone over time, causing the device to break or leak.

Defective Locking Mechanism

TIVAD ports are built with a locking mechanism, which should control the speed and amount of medication being released. However, some ports have a defective locking mechanism that allows medication to flow into the body uncontrolled. 

Cracking and Breaking

Another common TIVAD defect is cracking or breaking during implantation. This can lead to medication leaking out of the device.

Migration

If the TIVAD breaks, pieces of the device can migrate to different parts of the body. These pieces may puncture or otherwise damage organs they come into contact with, seriously injuring the patient.

What Injuries Can Defective TIVAD Ports Cause?

The TIVAD lawsuits allege that TIVAD defects can lead to serious injuries such as:

• Infection
• Sepsis
• Erosion of the TIVAD through the skin
• Internal bleeding
• Pressure around the heart
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cancer advancement when the TIVAD breaks or leaks medication
• Necrosis
• Perforation of tissue, blood vessels, or organs
• Removal surgery
• Death

Who Manufactures TIVAD Ports?

Several different brands manufacture TIVAD ports, but not all brands or TIVAD ports are associated with the defects. It’s best to check with your medical provider if your TIVAD was part of a recall.

We are assisting clients who have the following ports:

• Bioflo Port by Angioflow
• Vortex Port by Angioflow
• Power Port by Bard
• XCELA
• Navilyst/Angiodynamics
• Medcomp
• Dignity Low Profile by CT Ports
• Duo Power Party by Bard
• Palpitation Points

Who Can Join a TIVAD Lawsuit?

Individuals or family members of individuals who have had a TIVAD break and leak medications or other fluids into their bodies can join the TIVAD lawsuit. If you or someone you know has suffered from injuries or died due to a defective TIVAD, contact a TIVAD Lawyer to learn more about how they can help you and what to expect in a TIVAD lawsuit.

What Can I Expect in a TIVAD Lawsuit?

The first step of a TIVAD lawsuit is to contact a qualified TIVAD lawyer at 866-515-7369. Consultations are free, and you can ask as many questions as you want about what to expect in a TIVAD lawsuit. Next, your TIVAD legal team will conduct an intake. They will gather important information for your case, such as:

• Your medical provider’s name
• Where you received treatment
• When your device was installed
• The condition that was treated
• The specific device defect
• If corrective surgery was required

Once your legal team has completed the intake, they will send you paperwork that acknowledges you’ve hired our law firm to represent you in a TIVAD lawsuit. After you complete the paperwork, your legal team will gather evidence such as medical records, documentation of lost wages, and more.

How Much Does a TIVAD Lawyer Cost?

Our TIVAD lawyers do not collect upfront fees. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, meaning that we do not collect any payment until we successfully resolve your case. There is no financial risk to you in hiring a TIVAD lawyer. 

The Carlson Law Firm Can Help

A person in need of a TIVAD is likely already experiencing hard times due to sickness and pain. The last thing they need is more complications from a device that’s supposed to help them. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured or has died due to a defective TIVAD, contact a caring and compassionate TIVAD lawyers today. We care, and we can help.