A Bard Implanted Port Catheter device is a medical device that consists of two parts: a port and a catheter. The port is a small metal or plastic chamber that is implanted under the skin of your chest. The port has an access point, called a septum, that can be punctured with a special needle. The catheter is a thin tube connected to the port, and it is typically implanted into a large vein near your heart. The catheter allows fluids and medications to flow into your bloodstream and blood samples to be drawn out.

The Bard "PowerPort" models are designed to be power-injectable, which means that they can withstand high-pressure injections, such as contrast agents for CT scans. The port has specific features, including three raised "palpation bumps," to help doctors and nurses identify it as a power-injectable device.

Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of some patients who have suffered serious injuries and complications from the Bard Implanted Port Catheter device due to its defective design and inadequate warnings, among other things. Problems that may occur with a Bard Implanted Port Catheter device include but are not limited to:

Device fracture and migration: The catheter may crack or break, causing pieces of it to travel through the bloodstream and potentially cause organ damage or perforation. Device fracturing usually requires surgery to remove the broken pieces, repair the damage, and remove the defective device.

Infection: The port and/or the catheter may become infected. The catheter is made of a mixture of barium sulfate that breaks down upon contact with your bloodstream, degrading the catheter and harboring bacteria. This can cause fever, chills, redness, swelling, pain, or pus around the port site. In severe cases, the infection may spread to other parts of the body. Infection often requires antibiotic treatment and removal of the defective device.

Numerous models of Bard Implanted Port Catheter devices have been involved in patient complaints, including:

• BardPort M.R.I. Implantable Port;
• BardPort M.R.I. Low-Profile Implantable Port;
• BardPort Titanium Dome Implantable Port;
• BardPort Titanium Implantable Port;
• M.R.I. Plastic Dual Lumen Port;
• M.R.I. Ultra SlimPort Implantable Port;
• Peritoneal Titanium Port;
• PowerFlow Implantable Apheresis IV Port;
• PowerPort ClearVUE isp Implantable Port;
• PowerPort ClearVUE Slim Implantable Port;
• PowerPort duo M.R.I. Implantable Port;
• PowerPort Implantable Port;
• PowerPort isp Implantable Port;
• PowerPort isp M.R.I. Implantable Port;
• PowerPort M.R.I. Implantable Port;
• PowerPort Slim Implantable Port;
• PowerPort VUE M.R.I. Implantable Port;
• PowerPort VUE Titanium Implantable Port;
• SlimPort Dual-Lumen Rosenblatt Implantable Port;
• Titanium Low-Profile Port;
• Titanium SlimPort Implantable Port;
• Vaccess CT Low-Profile Titanium Power-Injectable Port;
• Vaccess CT Power-Injectable Implantable Port;
• X-Port isp M.R.I. Implantable Port; and
• X-Port Low-Profile Titanium Port.