Bard PowerPort Lawsuit — Defective Catheter Injury Claims
Bard PowerPort implantable catheters have injured thousands of patients. These small ports, implanted under the skin, have fractured, migrated into the heart and lungs, and caused life-threatening infections. Trial Lawyers United represents patients who suffered serious complications from defective Bard PowerPort devices.
What is a Bard PowerPort Catheter?
A Bard PowerPort is an implantable vascular access device manufactured by C.R. Bard (acquired by Becton Dickinson). The device consists of a small plastic reservoir (the port) implanted under the skin, connected by a thin catheter to a major vein near the heart. Physicians use PowerPorts to deliver chemotherapy, antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, and other medications directly into the bloodstream without repeated needle sticks.
The PowerPort is designed to be a durable, long-term device. Patients may live with an implanted port for years or decades. But the materials and design have proven defective.
Design and Material Defects in Bard PowerPort Catheters
The catheter component of the Bard PowerPort is made of polyurethane — a plastic polymer. Polyurethane degrades over time, particularly when exposed to the body’s fluids, temperature, and the stress of repeated access. Internal Bard documents show:
- Polyurethane degradation: Material breaks down into fragments, weakening the catheter wall.
- Cracking and fracturing: Hairline cracks develop in the catheter, eventually leading to complete fracture.
- Inadequate testing: Design validation failed to anticipate the rate and extent of polyurethane degradation in vivo.
- Failure to redesign: Even after learning of fracture complaints, Bard continued manufacturing identical devices.
Serious Complications and Injuries from PowerPort Fracture
When a Bard PowerPort catheter fractures, severe complications follow:
- Catheter fracture: The catheter splits into pieces, losing integrity.
- Embolization: Fractured pieces of the catheter travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, heart, or other organs.
- Migration to heart or lungs: Foreign body lodges in the pulmonary artery, right atrium, or right ventricle.
- Infections and sepsis: Biofilm formation and bacterial colonization at the site of fracture or device erosion.
- Thrombosis and deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots form around the foreign material or at the catheter tip.
- Cardiac arrhythmia: Electrical disturbances from the device contacting heart tissue.
- Vascular perforation: The catheter erodes through the vein wall, leaking fluid into surrounding tissues.
Resulting Injuries and Medical Consequences
- Pulmonary embolism (PE): Blood clot or catheter fragment in the lungs; life-threatening emergency.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Clotting in the leg or arm; pain, swelling, risk of pulmonary embolism.
- Cardiac perforation and tamponade: Catheter pierces the heart; emergency surgery required.
- Sepsis: Bloodstream infection; can lead to organ failure and death.
- Organ damage: Liver, kidney, or brain damage from emboli or infection.
- Multiple surgical procedures: Removal of the original device, retrieval of fractured pieces, placement of replacement catheter.
- Wrongful death: Sudden cardiovascular collapse or overwhelming infection.
MDL 3081: PowerPort Litigation in Arizona
Bard PowerPort injury cases have been consolidated into Multi-District Litigation (MDL) No. 3081 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. MDL 3081 includes claims for fracture, migration, infection, and resulting injuries. Trial Lawyers United actively litigates within this MDL.
Evidence Needed to Support Your Claim
- Surgical records documenting PowerPort implantation, including date and location.
- Imaging studies (CT, X-ray, echocardiogram) showing fracture, migration, or embolism.
- FDA MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience) database reports related to your device serial number.
- Explant pathology: If your device was removed, pathological examination showing polyurethane degradation.
- Clinical records documenting symptoms, complications, and treatment.
- Device identification: Lot number, serial number, insertion date to confirm Bard PowerPort model and manufacturing timeline.
How to Determine If You Had a Defective Bard PowerPort
If your port was removed or imaged, request the device identification information from your surgeon. Bard PowerPort devices are typically labeled with lot and serial numbers on the device itself and on paperwork from implantation. We can cross-reference these details with Bard’s manufacturing records to determine whether your device matches the models included in MDL 3081.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my implanted port was a Bard PowerPort?
Check your surgical discharge paperwork or request operative reports from your surgeon’s office. The device name and model should be documented. If you’re unsure, we can help investigate your device history.
What if my catheter fractured but hasn’t migrated yet?
Even a fracture detected on imaging without current migration represents a serious injury and a strong claim. We pursue cases at every stage of complication, from initial fracture detection through full embolization.
Is there a time limit to file a Bard PowerPort claim?
Statute of limitations varies by state and depends on when you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the defect. We evaluate tolling and file suit within applicable deadlines. Contact us immediately.
What legal theories apply to device defect cases?
We assert design defect (the polyurethane catheter is unreasonably dangerous), failure to warn (Bard did not adequately disclose fracture risk), and in some cases fraudulent concealment. A single case may involve multiple legal theories.
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The mass tort litigation described on this website is based on publicly available information about ongoing legal proceedings. Case status, MDL rulings, settlement programs, and qualification criteria are subject to change. The information on this page is current as of the date indicated and may not reflect the most recent developments in the litigation.
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