Bard Implanted Port Catheters
Pursuing Litigation for Injuries Linked to Bard Implanted Port Catheters
Bard PowerPort and related implanted port catheters are the subject of thousands of federal lawsuits alleging that the device's catheter tubing can crack, fracture, and send fragments into the bloodstream, leading to infections, blood clots, and emergency surgery.
If a Bard implanted port failed you, you may have a legal claim. Cornell & Greene is reviewing cases nationwide.
What is an Implanted Port Catheter?
An implanted port (sometimes called a chest port, power port, or port-a-cath) is a small device placed under the skin, usually near the collarbone, to give patients repeated access to a vein without a new needle stick every time.
It has two parts: a reservoir ("port") that sits just beneath the skin, and a thin catheter tube that runs from the port into a large central vein.
Ports are used mainly for patients who need frequent or long-term intravenous treatment: chemotherapy, IV antibiotics, nutrition support, and blood draws.
Bard Access Systems, a branch of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), has sold implanted ports under names including PowerPort, PowerPort ClearVUE, PowerPort Duo, BardPort, SlimPort, and X-Port for more than two decades.
Why Bard Port Catheters are the Subject of Litigation
The catheter tubing on Bard's implanted ports is made from a polyurethane blended with barium sulfate, a compound added so the device shows up on x-rays.
Lawsuits allege that the concentration and processing of barium sulfate in Bard's catheters caused the material to be structurally weaker than it should have been, leaving microscopic clusters that create weak points in the tubing wall.
Plaintiffs argue that normal use over time (the pressure of injections, blood flow, and everyday movement of the body) causes those weak points to crack, degrade, and eventually break.
When a piece of the catheter separates, it can travel through the bloodstream toward the heart or lungs. Court filings and testimony have made the durability of this material, and what Bard knew about it, a central issue across the litigation.
Plaintiffs further allege that Bard marketed its ports as safe for high-pressure "power injection" procedures without adequately warning patients and physicians of the fracture, infection, and migration risks tied to the design.
Complications Linked to Bard Implanted Ports
These are the injuries most commonly cited in Bard PowerPort lawsuits. If any of these happened to you or a loved one after receiving a Bard port, it's worth having your case reviewed.
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The catheter tube cracks or breaks, and a fragment travels through the bloodstream. Fragments have been reported to lodge in the heart or pulmonary artery. Complications may include:
Cardiac arrhythmia
Perforation
Pulmonary embolism
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Bacteria can colonize a degraded or cracked catheter surface, leading to infection at the port site or in the bloodstream itself. Symptoms could include fever, chills, redness or swelling at the site, and in some cases, treatment could include hospitalization while being administered IV antibiotics. In severe cases, sepsis (a potentially life-threatening reaction to an infection) could result.
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Blood clots can form around the catheter tip or along its length, raising the risk of blockage or embolism. Symptoms could include swelling in the arm, neck, or chest, pain or tightness near the port, and shortness of breath if the blood clot travels to the lungs.
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The port or catheter shifts out of its intended position, which can injure a vein or nearby organ. This could disrupt treatment, result in persistent pain, the device may be visibly out of place under the skin, and could result in needing surgery to remove the device earlier than planned.
Can I Bring a Lawsuit?
You may be able to bring a lawsuit if the following has happened to you or a loved one:
Had a Bard implanted port catheter placed (including PowerPort, PowerPort ClearVUE, PowerPort Duo, BardPort, SlimPort, or X-Port devices)
Have experienced one or more of the following:
The catheter fractured or migrated
Had surgery to retrieve a fragment of the catheter
Developed a serious infection or sepsis linked to the catheter
Had a blood clot or embolism linked to the catheter
Lost a loved one after complications from a Bard implanted port catheter"
It is important that you explore your options and understand your legal rights.
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Cornell & Greene, PLLC represents patients and families nationwide in medical device litigation, including leadership roles in several active MDLs. Consultations are free, confidential, and come with no obligation.
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