Overview

The Bard PowerPort is an implanted venous access device used for long-term treatments such as chemotherapy, IV medications, and blood draws. Designed to reduce repeated needle sticks, the device sits under the skin and connects to a major vein through a flexible catheter. However, in recent years, many patients have reported serious complications associated with the Bard PowerPort, leading to a growing number of lawsuits across the United States. These lawsuits claim the device is prone to structural failure, posing significant health risks to users.

Why Patients Are Filing Lawsuits

Patients and attorneys allege that the Bard PowerPort suffers from key design and manufacturing defects. The catheter material—made from polyurethane mixed with barium sulfate—may degrade over time or develop weak points. This can cause the catheter to crack, fracture, or even break apart inside the body. When pieces of the catheter migrate through the bloodstream, they can puncture blood vessels, damage organs, or cause dangerous cardiac complications. Many individuals also report developing severe infections or blood clots linked to micro-cracks or rough surfaces forming on the device.

Common Injuries and Complications

People filing claims have experienced injuries such as bloodstream infections, sepsis, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, arrhythmia, and vessel or organ perforation due to migrated catheter fragments. Some patients required emergency surgery to remove broken pieces of the device, while others experienced long-term pain, nerve damage, or complications that required the entire port to be removed. These injuries often resulted in extended medical care, hospitalization, and significant emotional and physical suffering.