Bard PowerPort Litigation: What Cancer Survivors Need to Know About Defective Port Catheters

Understanding the Growing Crisis

If you or a loved one underwent chemotherapy or other intravenous treatments and had a Bard PowerPort implanted, you may be entitled to significant compensation. As of January 2026, over 2,545 active lawsuits have been filed against Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) and its subsidiary Bard Access Systems, alleging that defective port catheter devices have caused serious, sometimes life-threatening injuries to cancer survivors and other patients.

At Carmichael Law Group, we understand the profound impact these complications have had on patients who were already facing challenging medical conditions. Our experienced product liability attorneys are committed to holding manufacturers accountable and securing justice for those harmed by defective medical devices.

What Is a Bard PowerPort?

The Bard PowerPort is an implantable port catheter system surgically placed beneath the skin to provide easy vascular access for delivering chemotherapy, contrast imaging agents, or other long-term intravenous medications. Also known as a totally implantable vascular access device (TIVAD), port-a-cath, or central venous catheter, these devices were marketed as safe, convenient alternatives to repeated needle sticks for patients requiring extended treatment.

Approximately 400,000 port catheters are implanted annually in the United States, with Bard commanding roughly 75% of the market. The devices consist of a small reservoir (port body) connected to a flexible catheter that threads into a major vein near the heart. While these devices should improve patient comfort and treatment efficiency, mounting evidence suggests that Bard's PowerPort models suffer from fundamental design defects.

The Alarming Defects: What Makes Bard PowerPorts Dangerous?

Catheter Surface Roughness

The core alleged defect involves the catheter's surface integrity. Unlike properly manufactured catheters with smooth surfaces, Bard PowerPort catheters exhibit significant roughness at the microscopic level. This roughness stems from several manufacturing and design failures:

Barium Sulfate Degradation: The catheters contain barium sulfate to make them visible on X-rays and CT scans. However, this compound disassociates and degrades over time, creating surface irregularities that promote bacterial adhesion and blood clot formation.

Inadequate Coating: Bard failed to incorporate protective sheaths or coatings that could prevent surface degradation and maintain the smooth surface critical for catheter safety.

Material Deficiencies: Whether constructed from polyurethane (ChronoFlex) or silicone (Groshong and Hickman types), the base materials themselves exhibit roughness that worsens as the device remains implanted.

The Devastating Health Consequences

This seemingly minor surface defect triggers a cascade of serious medical complications:

1. Catheter Fracture

The rough, degraded surface weakens catheter structural integrity, causing the device to break apart while inside the body. Catheter fragments can migrate through the bloodstream to vital organs, including the heart and lungs, requiring emergency surgical intervention. Studies indicate fractures typically occur between three months and three years after implantation—a timeline suggesting progressive material failure rather than surgical error.

2. Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections (CRBSI/CLABSI)

Surface roughness provides an ideal environment for bacterial colonization. Bacteria attach to the irregular surface, forming biofilms that protect them from antibiotics and the immune system. These infections can progress rapidly, causing:

• Sepsis and septic shock
• Endocarditis (heart valve infection)
• Extended hospitalizations
• Need for device removal and replacement
• In severe cases, death

Research published in medical journals reveals that central line-associated bloodstream infections account for between 84,000 and 204,000 infections annually, resulting in up to 25,000 preventable deaths at an estimated cost of up to $21 billion per year.

3. Thrombosis (Blood Clots)

The catheter's rough surface disrupts normal blood flow and activates clotting factors. Patients develop dangerous blood clots (deep vein thrombosis) that can:

• Block the catheter, rendering it useless
• Extend into major vessels, causing superior vena cava syndrome
• Break loose and travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• Necessitate long-term anticoagulation therapy with its own risks

One comprehensive study found an overall complication rate of 59% for implanted port catheters, including thrombovascular complications in 36.8% of patients, infections in 17.9%, and mechanical complications in 10.3%.

Don’t risk forfeiting your rights. Call (334) 487-8475 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation and learn about your options.