Currently there is not a Trasylol class action lawsuit filed on behalf of all patients suffering from the drug’s side effects. Trasylol lawsuits are best filed by a drug recall attorney who is familiar with the both the medical and legal issues involved with Bayer’s controversial heart surgery medication. There are many factors that must be taken into consideration when an individual or family member is looking at filing a Trasylol lawsuit. The state where the surgery took place, the year and what injuries the patient suffered must be analyzed before proceeding with a claim.
There are estimates that at least 10,000 patients may unnecessarily have suffered kidney problems including kidney failure due to use of aprotinin during heart surgery. Many patients throughout the United States may have been injected with Trasylol to reduce blood loss during coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery.
The Food and Drug Administration approved Aprotinin in 1993, a drug marketed by Bayer as Trasylol. Sales of Trasylol over the past several years have escalated to more than $600 million.
Several serious side effects have been associated when this drug was used during the bypass procedure. The kidneys are likely to be damaged in an irreversible manner thus leading to death. People should become aware of the life-threatening complications that are mainly related to the use of the Trasylol during bypass surgery. Such complications could have been avoided and anyone affected should be aware of their legal rights and the potential of a Trasylol Class Action Lawsuit. This type of lawsuit is started to provide patients and their families with compensation and hopefully provide future patients with the information they need in order to avoid the use of this type of drug during medical procedures.
Most patients and families of loved ones undergoing heart surgery are largely unaware if Trasylol was used during their heart surgery. The decision to use aprotinin (Trasylol) was made by a patient’s treating doctor. Aprotinin (Trasylol) affects the way in which blood clots. Trasylol is injected into patients who are undergoing open heart surgery. Excessive bleeding, during and after heart surgery, is a serious complication. Such bleeding exposes patients to multiple risks. Trasylol is primarily used during repeat coronary artery bypass surgery to reduce the amount of bleeding. The amount of blood transfusion required is reduced by using clotting medications including Trasylol.
A recent study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) (2006) reported a connection between Trasylol and increased risk of renal (kidney) failure, myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke in patients who have had heart surgery. The NEJM study concluded that two other generic drugs were available that were safer and less expensive than Trasylol.
Amicar cost per dose is $11
Cyklokapron cost per dose is $44
Trasylol cost per dose is $1300.
Neither of the generic drugs was associated with increased risk of kidney failure, heart attack or stroke.
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Cardiovascular and Renal Drug Advisory Committee met on September 21, 2006 to review recent data regarding the safety of aprotinin. On September 29, 2006, the FDA issued a public health advisory stating that it had learned Bayer failed to disclose a study that Bayer had conducted involving 67,000 patients undergoing heart surgery. Preliminary analysis of the Bayer study suggested that Trasylol use was linked with risk for congestive heart failure, kidney disease, stoke and death. Bayer did not disclose the study during the September 21, 2006 Advisory Committee meeting.
There are thousands of former heart surgery patients who are suffering from such side effects without knowing whether they were given Trasylol during their surgery. The primary problem with knowing whether or not Trasylol was used is the surgeon was the one who made the decision. You should contact a drug recall attorney in order to advise you of your legal options.