Trasylol Information News Video | Trasylol Class Action Lawsuit For Heart Surgery | Kidney Failure Stroke

Patients and families across the country are becoming aware of the devastating effects of Trasylol. Stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and death in patients are being reported in increasing numbers as hospital records are checked and it is discovered that Trasylol was used during open heart surgery.

On February 8, 2006, the FDA issued a public health advisory about Trasylol (also referred to as “Aprotinin”). The New England Journal of Medicine had earlier reported that the use of Trasylol during bypass heart surgery greatly increased the risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and heart failure. This was compared to cheaper generic drugs that did not have the same serious health risks. Trasylol is a drug manufactured by Bayer that is used to help prevent excessive bleeding during open heart surgery.

Several months later it was revealed that Bayer had failed to disclose a study that showed these same side effects in patients who had received Trasylol. The Bayer sponsored study analyzed the records of 67,000 patients. 30,000 patients received Trasylol while 37,000 were given a generic drug. The findings of the study showed that the patients who were given Trasylol had a much great risk of kidney failure and death.

If you or a loved one has had open heart surgery and then experienced Trasylol kidney failure, heart failure or stroke, you may be able entitled to money damages. A Trasylol lawsuit attorney can help evaluate your claim.

Trasylol Information News Video | Trasylol Heart Medication Class Action Lawsuit Attorney Lawyer

Bayer is reviewing the results of the Canadian study of their Trasylol heart medication drug. Trasylol problems including kidney failure, stroke and death have affected thousands of patients across the United States. The Canadian study (referred to as the “BART” study) was a randomized clinical trial involving patients who underwent one of the following procedures: repeat cardiac surgery, isolated mitral-valve replacement, combined valve and CABG surgery, multiple valve replacement or repair, and surgery of the ascending aorta or aortic arch procedures.

The BART study was stopped after a planned periodic data analysis indicated reduced bleeding but also an increase in all-cause mortality for patients in the aprotinin (Trasylol) treatment arm compared to patients who received either of the generic drugs aminocaproic acid or tranexamic acid. Bayer is waiting until more information becomes available following their final data analysis before they take further action regarding Trasylol.

If you or a loved one has had open heart surgery and then experienced Trasylol kidney failure, heart failure or stroke, you may be able entitled to money damages. A Trasylol lawsuit attorney can help evaluate your claim.

Trasylol Information News Video | Trasylol Kidney Problems Attorneys| Renal Failure Lawsuits

In November 2007, Bayer withdrew its heart surgery drug Trasylol from the marketplace. A study based on observations at sixty nine cardiac centers was published that showed Trasylol kidney failure along with other serious side effects such as heart failure and stroke. The observational study raised significant questions regarding the safety of Bayer’s drug.

The study revealed that patients receiving the drug had double the risk of Trasylol kidney problems along with other side effects. It is estimated that as many as 10,000 patients may be on kidney dialysis due to Trasylol. Many patients have suffered from renal failure which can often lead to death. After Trasylol enters the body during bypass surgery it is attracted to the kidneys where, as in many patients, it causes kidney problems including kidney failure. The following video describes the anatomy of the kidneys.

If you or a loved one has had open heart surgery and then experienced Trasylol kidney problems, heart failure or stroke, you may be able entitled to money damages. Trasylol lawsuit attorneys can help evaluate your claim.

Trasylol News Video | Trasylol Heart Surgery Attorney CABG Lawyer | Kidney Failure Problems

Thousands of heart surgery patients throughout the United States who were given the Trasylol heart medication during bypass surgery have kidney failure and are on dialysis or have died as a result of renal failure. You need dialysis when you develop end stage kidney failure - usually by the time you lose about 85 to 90 percent of your kidney function.

The following video describes hemodialysis that many patients suffering from Trasylol kidney problems have to undergo three times per week following their heart surgery.

When Your Kidneys Fail

Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals, and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. When your kidneys fail, harmful wastes build up in your body, your blood pressure may rise, and your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. When this happens, you need treatment to replace the work of your failed kidneys.

How Hemodialysis Works

In hemodialysis, your blood is allowed to flow, a few ounces at a time, through a special filter that removes wastes and extra fluids. The clean blood is then returned to your body. Removing the harmful wastes and extra salt and fluids helps control your blood pressure and keep the proper balance of chemicals like potassium and sodium in your body.

One of the biggest adjustments you must make when you start hemodialysis treatments is following a strict schedule. Most patients go to a clinic-a dialysis center-three times a week for 3 to 5 or more hours each visit. For example, you may be on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule or a Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule. You may be asked to choose a morning, afternoon, or evening shift, depending on availability and capacity at the dialysis unit. Your dialysis center will explain your options for scheduling regular treatments.

Researchers are exploring whether shorter daily sessions, or longer sessions performed overnight while the patient sleeps, are more effective in removing wastes. Newer dialysis machines make these alternatives more practical with home dialysis. But the Federal Government has not yet established a policy to pay for more than three hemodialysis sessions a week.

Hemodialysis.

Several centers around the country teach people how to perform their own hemodialysis treatments at home. A family member or friend who will be your helper must also take the training, which usually takes at least 4 to 6 weeks. Home dialysis gives you more flexibility in your dialysis schedule. With home hemodialysis, the time for each session and the number of sessions per week may vary, but you must maintain a regular schedule by giving yourself dialysis treatments as often as you would receive them in a dialysis unit.

Adjusting to Changes

Even in the best situations, adjusting to the effects of kidney failure and the time you spend on dialysis can be difficult. Aside from the “lost time,” you may have less energy. You may need to make changes in your work or home life, giving up some activities and responsibilities. Keeping the same schedule you kept when your kidneys were working can be very difficult now that your kidneys have failed. Accepting this new reality can be very hard on you and your family. A counselor or social worker can answer your questions and help you cope.

Many patients feel depressed when starting dialysis, or after several months of treatment. If you feel depressed, you should talk with your social worker, nurse, or doctor because this is a common problem that can often be treated effectively.

Getting Your Vascular Access Ready

Arteriovenous fistula. One important step before starting hemodialysis is preparing a vascular access, a site on your body from which your blood is removed and returned. A vascular access should be prepared weeks or months before you start dialysis. It will allow easier and more efficient removal and replacement of your blood with fewer complications. For more information about the different kinds of vascular accesses and how to care for them, see the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) fact sheet Vascular Access for Hemodialysis.

Equipment and Procedures

When you first visit a hemodialysis center, it may seem like a complicated mix of machines and people. But once you learn how the procedure works and become familiar with the equipment, you’ll be more comfortable.

 
Graft.

Dialysis Machine

The dialysis machine is about the size of a dishwasher. This machine has three main jobs:

• pump blood and watch flow for safety
• clean wastes from blood
• watch your blood pressure and the rate of fluid removal from your body

Dialyzer

Structure of a typical hollow fiber dialyzer. The dialyzer is a large canister containing thousands of small fibers through which your blood is passed. Dialysis solution, the cleansing fluid, is pumped around these fibers. The fibers allow wastes and extra fluids to pass from your blood into the solution, which carries them away. The dialyzer is sometimes called an artificial kidney.

• Reuse. Your dialysis center may use the same dialyzer more than once for your treatments. Reuse is considered safe as long as the dialyzer is cleaned before each use. The dialyzer is tested each time to make sure it’s still working, and it should never be used for anyone but you. Before each session, you should be sure that the dialyzer is labeled with your name and check to see that it has been cleaned, disinfected, and tested.

Dialysis Solution

Dialysis solution, also known as dialysate, is the fluid in the dialyzer that helps remove wastes and extra fluid from your blood. It contains chemicals that make it act like a sponge. Your doctor will give you a specific dialysis solution for your treatments. This formula can be adjusted based on how well you handle the treatments and on your blood tests.

Needles

Many people find the needle sticks to be one of the hardest parts of hemodialysis treatments. Most people, however, report getting used to them after a few sessions. If you find the needle insertion painful, an anesthetic cream or spray can be applied to the skin. The cream or spray will numb your skin briefly so you won’t feel the needle.

Most dialysis centers use two needles-one to carry blood to the dialyzer and one to return the cleaned blood to your body. Some specialized needles are designed with two openings for two-way flow of blood, but these needles are less efficient and require longer sessions. Needles for high-flux or high-efficiency dialysis need to be a little larger than those used with regular dialyzers.

Arterial and venous needles.

Some people prefer to insert their own needles. You’ll need training on inserting needles properly to prevent infection and protect your vascular access. You may also learn a “ladder” strategy for needle placement in which you “climb” up the entire length of the access session by session so that you don’t weaken an area with a grouping of needle sticks. A different approach is the “buttonhole” strategy in which you use a limited number of sites but insert the needle back into the same hole made by the previous needle stick. Whether you insert your own needles or not, you should know these techniques to better care for your access.

NIH Publication No. 07-4666
December 2006

If you or a loved one has had open heart surgery and then experienced Trasylol kidney problems, heart failure or stroke, you may be able entitled to money damages. Trasylol lawsuit attorneys can help evaluate your claim.

60 Minutes Trasylol Video

60 Minutes Story on Trasylol Kidney Failures and Heart Attacks

On Sunday, February 17, 2008, the CBS news show 60 Minutes, featured a story concerning the serious side effects from Bayer’s heart surgery drug called Trasylol. According to the 2006 study by medical researcher Dr. Dennis Mangano, the most serious and common complications associated with Trasylol were increased incidents of renal and kidney failure and heart attacks. His observational study included over 5000 patients around the world. When asked about his Trasylol study, Dr. Mangano told 60 Minutes’ that, “It showed an important association between Trasylol use and kidney failure requiring dialysis and it showed a trend towards increased death in hospitals in these patients.”

The 60 minutes story also profiled the Trasylol patient Joe Randone. He went in for heart valve replacement surgery at the age of 52. Following surgery where Trasylol was put in Mr. Randone’s IV, he suffered two heart attacks and kidney failure. In August 2006 Mr. Randone died from complications. The family has filed a Trasylol lawsuit against Bayer. Dr. Mangano estimated that 1000 lives per month could have been saved if the drug had been taken off the market after his Trasylol study was published.