Trasylol Recall Lawsuit - Kidney Failure and Heart Attack Lawsuits
Trasylol Recall Alert: On November 5, 2007 the FDA requested Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp to suspend the further sale or use of the antibleeding drug called Trasylol, amid growing concerns and strong medical evidence that Trasylol may be linked to a higher risk of kidney and renal failures, heart attacks, stroke and death than other antibleeding drugs used during a cardiac bypass, heart catherization or other cardiac surgery or operations. On Sunday, February 17, 2008 the CBS news show 60 Minutes aired the lead story about the dangers of Trasylol. (see: CBS 60 Minutes Show on Trasylol) This special disclosed the full story about known Trasylol side effects and how Bayer intentionally withheld a medical study that might have saved the lives of 1000's of Trasylol patients if the drug had been recalled a year or so earlier.
Trasylol is a drug used to control blood loss during heart surgery. However, Trasylol has been shown to cause adverse and even fatal side effects by significantly increasing the heart patient's risk of a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure. A medical study in January of 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine reported the adverse Trasylol side effects that were previously unknown by health professionals and heart surgery patients.
The Trasylol study was conducted to examine and detect Trasylol side effects. This study was pioneered by Dr. Dennis T. Mangano of the Ischemia Research and Education Foundation by sampling 4,374 heart surgery patients. The patients consisted of people who were administered Trasylol, those who took generic options and others who took nothing during their cardiovascular procedure. The results of Trasylol usage were alarming.
Trasylol Warning - Increased Side Effects to Heart Surgery Patients
A recent study, published in a January 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), reports that the drug Trasylol, widely used during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery to limit blood loss, has been associated with the following Trasylol side effects:
- Increased risk of stroke by 181%
- Double the risk of kidney failure
- Increased risk of encephalopathy
- Increased risk of heart attack by 50%
Trasylol makers, pharmaceutical company Bayer AG are continuing to deny these findings claiming that they are inconsistent with fifteen years of thorough research conducted by the company. However, the Trasylol results suggest that undetected side effects may in fact be due to insufficient trial periods.
Dr. Mangano's study supports the use of alternative options to avoid Trasylol side effects. Effective alternatives to Trasylol for heart surgery blood clot medications are aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. In the research performed, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid proved to be just as effective and significantly safer than Trasylol. Dr. Mangano has commented on his study, "In good conscious, I could not administer Trasylol to this group of patients, especially given the availability of safer alternatives. The least that should be done is to inform the patient that the risk of going on dialysis is increased 2 to 3 fold and there are alternatives."
Trasylol Recall Lawsuit Evaluation
If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack, stroke, heart damage or kidney failure after having heart surgery, then Trasylol may have been used and it may have caused your injuries. If Trasylol was used during your surgery, then you may be entitled to file a lawsuit for your pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical bills and other legal remedies and damages. Contact us today to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney who is familiar with the legal rights of those injured by Trasylol. Our evaluation and initial consultation are completely free of charge. Contact our law firm today. Call 1-800-883-9858.
