AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter Lawsuits: Snapshot Of A Medical Device Under Scrutiny

In recent years, many patients have come forward with concerns about the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter, a medical device designed to facilitate long-term intravenous treatments. 

This implantable port catheter has been linked to severe complications, leading to a wave of product liability lawsuits against the manufacturer.

Understanding Implantable Port Catheters

Medical professionals place small implantable port catheters, like the AngioDynamics Xcela, under the skin, typically in the chest area. 

These devices consist of a reservoir (the port) connected to a thin, flexible tube (the catheter) inserted into a large vein, often leading to the heart. 

The port has a septum, which healthcare providers can access with a special needle, allowing workers to deliver medications and fluids or draw blood samples without repeatedly puncturing the patient's skin.

Port catheters are particularly beneficial for patients who require frequent or long-term intravenous treatments, such as those with cancer, sickle cell disease, or other chronic conditions. 

By providing a stable, easily accessible entry point into the bloodstream, these medical devices may improve patient comfort and reduce the risk of complications associated with multiple needle sticks.

AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter in a Nutshell 

AngioDynamics, a leading medical device company, introduced the Xcela Port Catheter as an advanced solution for long-term vascular access. 

The company touted several features that set the Xcela apart from other port catheters on the market, including:

• Unique valve design to prevent backflow and reduce the risk of occlusions.
• Larger septum for easier needle access and less patient discomfort.
• Power-injectable option for use with contrast media in CT scans and other imaging procedures.

Despite these claimed advantages, the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter has come under scrutiny in recent years due to reports of serious complications and injuries linked to the device.

FDA Approval and the 510(k) Process

Like many medical devices, the AngioDynamics Port Catheter received FDA clearance through the 510(k) premarket notification process.

Fasttrack method

The 510(k) approach allows manufacturers to bring a device to market if they can demonstrate that it is "substantially equivalent" to a previously approved device, known as a predicate.

Less testing required 

Critics argue that the 510(k) process is less rigorous than the FDA's premarket approval (PMA) pathway, which requires more extensive testing and clinical trials.

Unknown adverse effects 

Some experts contend that the 510(k) process may not adequately assess the safety and effectiveness of new medical devices, potentially putting patients at risk.

In the case of the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter, medical professionals have raised concerns about whether the device should have undergone more stringent testing before being released to the market, given its potential for serious complications.

Recorded Complications and Injuries

Patients implanted with the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter have reported a range of severe complications and injuries.

Catheter fractures

The catheter component of the device may break or fracture, potentially leading to fragments migrating through the bloodstream and lodging in vital organs, such as the heart or lungs.

Catheter migration

Sometimes, the catheter may dislodge or migrate from its intended position, causing improper medication delivery, pain, and other complications.

Blood clots and thrombosis

The presence of the port catheter can disrupt normal blood flow and increase the risk of clot formation, potentially leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or other life-threatening conditions.

Infections and sepsis

If bacteria enter the bloodstream through the port catheter, patients may develop serious infections, including sepsis, a potentially fatal systemic response to infection.

Many patients have required additional surgeries to remove or replace malfunctioning AngioDynamics Xcela Plus Port Catheters, exposing them to further risks and prolonging their recovery times.

Allegations of Design Defects

At the heart of the lawsuits against AngioDynamics are allegations that the Xcela Port Catheter suffers from inherent design defects that make it prone to fractures, migration, and other complications.

Flawed material 

Plaintiffs argue that the manufacturer built the device's catheter with an excessively high concentration of barium sulfate, a radiopaque material used to make the catheter visible on X-rays.

Over time, the high barium sulfate content allegedly causes the catheter to become brittle and prone to fracturing.

Imperfect engineering 

Additionally, plaintiffs contend that the catheter's surface may become rough and irregular, promoting the accumulation of fibrin and other substances that can lead to clots and infections.

Bard PowerPort comparisons  

Design defect allegations are similar to those raised in lawsuits against C.R. Bard, Inc., manufacturer of the widely-used implantable port catheter, Bard PowerPort.

These medical devices have faced numerous lawsuits, claiming that the Bard PowerPort is prone to fractures and other complications due to a specific plastic material in the catheter.

Mounting Litigation Against AngioDynamics

After reports of injuries linked to the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter surfaced, many patients filed product liability lawsuits against the manufacturer. 

The federal lawsuits filed in courts across the United States allege that AngioDynamics:

• Designed and manufactured a defective medical device.
• Failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare providers about the risks associated with the Xcela Port Catheter.
• Negligently marketed and sold a product unsafe for its intended use.
• Breached implied and express warranties by providing a device that did not perform as promised.

Many plaintiffs with sickle cell disease or other chronic conditions requiring long-term vascular access are seeking economic and noneconomic damages to redress the alleged defects in the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter.

Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Consolidation

In response to the growing number of lawsuits filed against AngioDynamics, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) recently issued a transfer order consolidating the cases into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of California.

This move will streamline the pretrial proceedings, including discovery and motions, and promote consistency in rulings across the various cases.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino will coordinate the proceedings and potentially select several representative cases for bellwether trials to gauge the strength of the plaintiffs' claims.

What's Next for the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter Litigation

As the AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter lawsuits move forward in the MDL, legal professionals expect several important developments to arise.

Additional lawsuits

The number of lawsuits against AngioDynamics will likely grow as more patients become aware of the potential link between their injuries and the Xcela Port Catheter.

Discovery and evidence preservation

The MDL will allow for coordinated discovery, during which plaintiffs and defendants will exchange relevant documents and evidence related to the design, testing, and marketing of the Xcela Port Catheter. 

Injured patients should take steps to preserve their medical records and any physical evidence to support potential legal claims.

Bellwether settlement negotiations

If the MDL progresses to bellwether trials, the outcomes of these initial cases may shape potential settlement negotiations. In some MDLs, successful bellwether trials led to global settlements that resolved multiple pending cases.

Patient Safety and Corporate Accountability Moves Forward 

The AngioDynamics Xcela Port Catheter lawsuits serve as a reminder of the ongoing need for robust oversight and transparency in the medical device industry.

Consolidating the Xcela Port Catheter lawsuits into an MDL is an influential step toward holding AngioDynamics accountable for any alleged design defects or failures to warn that may have put people at risk. 

Patients, healthcare providers, regulators, and manufacturers should keep a watchful eye on this litigation as it unfolds daily.