Bard PowerPort Safety Risks and Device Complications

A Bard PowerPort is a small medical device placed under the skin that helps doctors access veins more easily. It’s often used for patients who require frequent treatments, including:

Doctors can also use it to take blood samples.

The PowerPort connects to a thin tube called a catheter, which goes into a vein. When used with a special needle, it can handle strong injections, including contrast dye used in medical scans.

Since the port is placed under your skin, it can remain in place for an extended period, making it easier and safer if you require repeated treatments or tests.

PowerPorts were manufactured by Bard, formerly known as C.R. Bard, a medical device manufacturer that is part of Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Unfortunately, PowerPort failures have led to hundreds of lawsuits claiming design defects led to complications and severe injuries.

Lawsuits and reports of adverse events to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have raised concerns about Chronoflex AL used in Bard’s catheters. The material is made from barium sulfate and polyurethane.

Litigation claims that the barium sulfate in the Chronoflex AL may weaken or cause the catheter to break down over time.

Failures can lead to various injuries, some of them severe or life-threatening. Of the 500 adverse event reports in Spring 2025, there were 155 reported cases of blood clots and 12 reports of pulmonary embolisms.

Signs of Serious PowerPort Complications

If you have a Bard PowerPort, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. This is a serious condition that can affect your lungs, and the symptoms can vary.

Pulmonary embolisms are life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

If you or someone you know has these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Have someone drive you to an emergency room or call 911.

People have filed lawsuits against the Bard PowerPort, claiming that the device can malfunction and cause severe health problems.

PowerPort lawsuits allege that Bard used excessive amounts of barium sulfate in the catheter material. Using too much of this compound can weaken the device’s catheter and result in serious injuries.

“Many of our clients suffered serious complications after their Bard PowerPort device fractured or migrated,” attorney Moshe Horn of Simmons Hanly Conroy told Drugwatch. “We’re seeing cases involving bloodstream infections, blood clots, organ punctures, and in some instances, permanent nerve or cardiac damage. These aren’t minor issues. They can require surgery, long-term care, and in the worst cases, they’ve been life-threatening.”

People who were hurt say the device was unsafe and want the manufacturer to be held responsible. Lawsuits claim Bard failed to test and monitor the device adequately. Plaintiffs also say that Bard did not properly report PowerPort complications.

In August 2023, a federal panel combined 62 Bard PowerPort lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in an Arizona federal court. MDLs enable the consolidation of multiple similar lawsuits in a single litigation, making the legal process more efficient.

As of August 2025, there were 1,807 lawsuits pending in the Bard MDL.

Who Is Eligible To File a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit?

You might be eligible to file a Bard PowerPort lawsuit if you had one of the devices implanted on or after January 1, 2000, and suffered specific complications or injuries related to the defects named in other PowerPort lawsuits.

You must have had the catheter port removed, attempted to have it removed, had it replaced or experienced a situation where your doctor was unable to replace it.

How To File a Bard PowerPort Lawsuit

If you are considering a PowerPort lawsuit, you can get a free case evaluation from Drugwatch. Simply complete a short form, and a member of our team will contact you to discuss your situation and determine if you have a valid case.

Our evaluations are completely free and come with no obligation to proceed. Regardless of your decision, you will receive valuable information and support.

Drugwatch partners with trusted law firms that specialize in personal injury and medical device litigation. Our goal is to connect you with an attorney who understands your unique situation.

The FDA has received hundreds of adverse event reports related to the Bard PowerPort. The FDA’s MAUDE database includes 500 reports between April 21, 2025, and June 30, 2025 alone.

Despite this, there have been no Bard PowerPort or FDA recalls due to the device deteriorating over time. Bard mentioned this in a 2023 statement after the MDL was announced.

“Importantly, there has been no recall of any Bard PowerPort device due to catheter fracture,” the statement read. “We have identified no new safety risks related to our Bard PowerPort devices that are not already identified and communicated in each device’s instructions for use.”

However, Bard recalled 178 PowerPort devices in October 2019 due to another issue. Some of the devices may have been shipped with a connection designed for a different type of catheter, which could prolong the surgery required for implantation.

There have been several different Bard PowerPort models over the years. Since the introduction of the Chronoflex material in 2015, all the devices have been approved for use through the FDA’s 510(k) process.

The FDA’s 510(k) process allows a new device to be cleared if it’s shown to be as safe and effective as one already on the market. It doesn’t have to be identical, but it must function the same way without raising new safety concerns.

Approximately 99% of medical devices have been approved through the 510(k) pathway since the 1970s. Critics argue that this process may allow risky devices to reach the market because it lacks specificity and lets companies cite currently marketed devices in a potentially unsafe way.