Miami Defective Medical Catheter Lawyer

Ways an implanted catheter can fail

A catheter system generally includes the tubing itself, a connection point, and in the case of a port, a septum used for access, and each part carries its own risk.

• Fracture or complete separation of the catheter tubing
• Migration of a broken fragment through the bloodstream
• Difficulty flushing, infusing, or drawing blood through the device
• Septum or connector problems affecting access
• Material fatigue leading to cracks or leaks in the tubing
• Infection at the access site or within the bloodstream
• Blood clot formation around the catheter

Catheter recalls worth reviewing

Several manufacturers have issued corrections tied to specific catheter and port models in recent years, often affecting a particular lot or configuration rather than an entire product line.

• Bard's PowerPort ClearVUE Slim, recalled after a specific lot was found to contain an oversized catheter lock that did not match the labeling
• Bard's PowerPort isp M.R.I. kits, recalled after certain kits shipped with an incorrectly sized tunneler or barb tip
• Bard's PowerPort ClearVUE Slim and ClearVUE isp products, recalled over incorrect flushing instructions printed on the patient identification card
• Bard's PowerPort duo M.R.I., recalled after reports of difficulty flushing, infusing, or aspirating along with septum dislodgement
• Bard's 4 Fr. Single Lumen PowerPICC catheter, recalled separately after tubing outside the specified material range was linked to a higher risk of fatigue-related leaks

These examples happen to involve Bard products, but recalls affecting catheters and implanted ports have come from other manufacturers as well, including B. Braun, Teleflex, and AngioDynamics.

Signs your catheter or port may not be functioning properly

Some of these problems are noticed immediately during a clinic visit, while others only become clear on a later scan.

• Resistance or pain when the device is accessed for infusion
• Inability to draw blood back through the catheter
• Swelling, redness, or leakage near the access site
• A fever or other signs of infection developing after access
• New chest, neck, or arm symptoms that were not present before
• A fragment or displacement visible on imaging

What you may be able to recover

A failed catheter can add a whole separate course of treatment on top of whatever condition it was placed to manage.

• Costs of removing or replacing a failed catheter
• Treatment for infection, thrombosis, or a migrated fragment
• Additional imaging and procedures to locate device fragments
• Lost wages during treatment and recovery
• Pain, suffering, and emotional distress