Bard PowerPort Catheter Lawsuit

Catheter Fracture

The port's catheter tubing cracks or breaks apart inside the body, sometimes releasing fragments into the bloodstream.

Common signs

• Sudden chest, neck, or shoulder pain
• Swelling around the port site
• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
• Difficulty flushing or drawing from the port
• Shortness of breath

How it is diagnosed: Chest X-ray, CT imaging, or fluoroscopy showing a separated or fragmented catheter.

Severity: Emergency — a migrated fragment may require interventional retrieval or open surgery.

Device Migration

The catheter or a fractured piece of it moves out of position, traveling toward the heart or pulmonary arteries.

Common signs

• Chest pain or pressure
• Heart palpitations or arrhythmia
• Shortness of breath
• Port that no longer flushes or draws
• Pain radiating to the neck or jaw

How it is diagnosed: Imaging (X-ray, CT, or echocardiogram) locating the device outside its implanted position.

Severity: Emergency — migration to the heart or lungs can be life-threatening.

Infection or Sepsis

Bloodstream infection associated with the implanted port, which in severe cases progresses to sepsis.

Common signs

• Fever and chills
• Redness, warmth, or drainage at the port site
• Rapid heart rate
• Confusion or disorientation
• Low blood pressure

How it is diagnosed: Blood cultures, catheter-tip culture, and clinical sepsis criteria.

Severity: Emergency — sepsis is life-threatening and usually requires device removal plus IV antibiotics.

Thrombosis or Blood Clot

A clot forming on or around the catheter, which can obstruct the vein or break loose and travel to the lungs.

Common signs

• Swelling of the arm, neck, or face on the port side
• Arm or shoulder pain
• Visible enlarged surface veins
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain worsening with breathing

How it is diagnosed: Doppler ultrasound or CT venogram; CT pulmonary angiography where embolism is suspected.

Severity: Serious to emergency — pulmonary embolism is life-threatening.

Cardiac or Pulmonary Injury

Perforation, laceration, arrhythmia, or effusion caused by the catheter or a migrated fragment contacting the heart or lung.

Common signs

• Chest pain
• Irregular or racing heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Fainting or lightheadedness
• Low blood pressure

How it is diagnosed: Echocardiogram, CT imaging, or cardiac catheterization.

Severity: Emergency — perforation and tamponade require immediate surgical management.

A PowerPort-family device was implanted

You had a Bard PowerPort or another port in the PowerPort family surgically implanted. If you are not sure of the brand, your implanting hospital's operative report will name it.

A complication occurred

The port fractured, migrated, caused an infection or sepsis, caused a blood clot, or caused a cardiac or pulmonary injury.

It required medical attention

The complication led to treatment, device removal or replacement, or a hospital admission. This is what separates a documented injury from a device that simply stopped working.

The dates and records can be identified

Roughly when the port was placed and when the complication happened, and whether the medical records connecting the two can be obtained. Approximate dates are fine at this stage.