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PowerPort Complications & Available Damages
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What is a PowerPort?
The PowerPort Implantable Port—also known as a “port-a-cath” or chemo port—is a small device placed in the chest that transfers fluids to and from a patient’s veins. This device makes it easier for doctors to draw blood, deliver infusions, and provide long-term medication like chemotherapy without the need of repeat IVs during treatment.
The device was first sold in 2000 by manufacturer C.R. Bard, which has since been acquired by Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD). Though there are many port-a-cath devices available from a variety of manufacturers, the PowerPort has remained the most popular chemo port in America for nearly 20 years.
Commonly reported PowerPort complications
As of August 2026, over 4,000 PowerPort users have filed claims against C.R. Bard and BD due to severe medical complications. Some of the most common issues in the lawsuit include:
Catheter fractures
According to plaintiff attorneys and medical experts, the PowerPort contains a material that makes it especially prone to cracking or fracturing. When a chemo port breaks or develops cracks, it can lead to a variety of bigger issues if not treated with surgery. In extreme cases, tiny catheter fragments could puncture the heart or obstruct blood flow, which could cause life-threatening events like pulmonary embolisms.
Blood clots (Thrombosis)
Because the PowerPort may be prone to fracturing, expert witnesses claim this can sometimes cause blood clots to form near and within the cracks. If these clots grow large enough, they can eventually obstruct blood flow and cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or even break free into the bloodstream. If a blood clot reaches the lungs or brain, it could lead to potentially fatal complications like pulmonary embolisms or stroke.
Infections
Medical experts claim the PowerPort’s tendency to fracture could also cause other issues, including serious infections. When a chemo port begins to form cracks, it could cause bacteria to slowly build up within the crevices. This can potentially cause infections to develop, and in severe cases, it can even cause sepsis.
Available damages in the PowerPort Lawsuit
For current and new cases, injured PowerPort patients and their families may be able to earn substantial compensation for the damages they suffered. Participants in the PowerPort lawsuit tend to seek the following types of damages:
- Cost of surgery & past medical bills
- Cost of future medical expenses
- Cost of lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Pain of suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death
Join the Bard PowerPort lawsuit
If you or a family member were injured after receiving a PowerPort chemo port in 2013 or later, you may be eligible for a settlement.
Ready to file a claim ?
See if you qualify for the PowerPort lawsuit.
Referenced Articles
- Becton, Dickinson and Company. (2024). The facts on power injectable implantable ports. https://www.bd.com/en-us/products-and-solutions/solutions/the-facts-on-power-injectable-implantable-ports
- Becton, Dickinson and Company. (2017, December 29). BD completes Bard acquisition, creating new global health care leader. PR Newswire. https://news.bd.com/2017-12-29-BD-Completes-Bard-Acquisition-Creating-New-Global-Health-Care-Leader,1
View more sources
- United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. (2026, July 1). MDL statistics report – distribution of pending mdl dockets by actions pending. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-February-2-2026.pdf
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2026, February 19). Manufacture and user facility device experience (MAUDE) database. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfmaude/search.cfm
About the PowerPort Lawsuit
Products at-risk
All models of the PowerPort Implantable Port.
Who's being sued?
C.R. Bard; Becton, Dickinson & Company
Which complications are eligible?
- Catheter fracture
- Infection/sepsis
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Blood Clots (Thrombosis)
