National Bard PowerPort & Smart Port CT Attorneys

Smart Port CT and Bard PowerPort Devices May Cause Life-Threatening Complications

At Pope McGlamry, we are committed to representing individuals who have been harmed by defective medical devices, including implantable vascular access devices like the Smart Port CT and the Bard PowerPort. These devices are used for patients needing long-term venous access and have been linked to severe health complications, resulting in lawsuits against the manufacturers. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to the Bard PowerPort or Smart Port CT, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced defective medical device attorneys serve clients nationwide and want to help you get the justice you deserve.

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What is the Smart Port CT?

Manufactured by AngioDynamics, Inc., the Smart Port CT is a medical device designed for patients requiring repeat access to their vascular system for treatments like chemotherapy, intravenous fluids and medications. The device has become the subject of lawsuits due to its failure mechanisms, which has caused severe injuries and, in some cases, death.

What is the Bard PowerPort?

The Bard PowerPort is manufactured by C.R. Bard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Becton Dickinson and Co. Similar to the Smart Port CT, the Bard PowerPort is a medical device that is surgically implanted into the body to allow for repeated access to a vein. The device delivers medications, intraveneous fluids, nutrition or blood products directly into the bloodstream.

How Do These Port Devices Fail?

Numerous reports have highlighted two primary ways in which the Smart Port CT and the Bard PowerPort are failing:

Infections: The Smart Port CT and the Bard PowerPort are prone to serious infections. Patients have suffered life-threatening complications like sepsis that led to device removal, hospitalization and emergency medical intervention.
Fractures: These devices tend to wear down over time and fracture. The catheter of the Smart Port CT and the Bard PowerPort is made from a blend of materials, including polyurethane and barium sulfate. Barium sulfate helps doctors see the catheter during scans, but it also causes the catheter to weaken over time. As the catheter wears down, tiny pieces of barium sulfate can break off, leading to the formation of small cracks or fractures. These cracks can allow blood and other matter to build up, increasing the risk of infection. Over time, this wear cause holes and cracks to develop in the catheter, making it easier for the catheter to break or fracture inside the patient’s body. If this occurs, pieces of the catheter can move through the bloodstream to the heart or lungs, potentially causing damage to blood vessels, blockages or even death.

Lawsuits Against AngioDynamics and C.R. Bard

Patients who have suffered from these device failures have sued the manufacturers of these port devices, AngioDynamics, Inc. and its subsidiary Navilyst Medical, as well as C.R. Bard. The complaints allege that the companies:

Failed to adequately test the devices before releasing them to the market.

Knew or should have known that these port devices posed an unreasonably high risk of infection and fractures.

Failed to provide sufficient warnings about these risks, misleading physicians and patients who believed the devices were safe.

Medical research has shown that the polyurethane catheter in these devices, which contains a high concentration of barium sulfate for radiopacity (the ability to be seen on X-rays or scans), is prone to surface degradation and wear. This degradation increases the risk of infections and catheter fractures, leading to dangerous health complications for patients.

Injuries Caused by Smart Port CT/Bard PowerPort Failures

Injuries reported by patients affected by the Smart Port CT/Bard PowerPort failures include:

Sepsis and other dangerous infections

Device migration, leading to life-threatening complications

Vascular damage

Heart attacks

Pulmonary embolisms

Death

Many patients have needed additional surgeries to remove these devices and address the complications caused by their failures. This has resulted in significant emotional, physical and financial burdens on both patients and their families.

Contact Pope McGlamry For a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a Smart Port CT or Bard PowerPort device, contact Pope McGlamry today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay anything unless we win your case.

Call our Atlanta office or submit your free case evaluation online.

Medical Port Device Lawyers