Trasylol - Deadly Side Effects
Trasylol (generically known or a/k/a “aprotinin”) received FDA approval for use in certain cardiac surgeries. Trasylol is still used today to reduce the amount of blood a patient loses both during and after a surgery. However, a mounting controversy surrounds the continued use of Trasylol, and in February of 2006, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning physicians to limit use of Trasylol. On September 21, 2006, the FDA met to investigate the dangers of Trasylol. Although Bayer appeared to cooperate with this FDA investigation, Bayer was withholding data from a study which indicated Trasylol causes life-threatening side-effects. The FDA learned that Bayer did not disclose this damaging data shortly after the FDA completed its investigation. However, the FDA learned about this data only because a scientist from Bayer’s study tipped off the FDA. Bayer did not willingly disclose the data to the FDA even when Bayer representatives were face to face with FDA officials to discuss the dangers of Trasylol, and even though numerous FDA officials commented to Bayer that they needed more data.
A recent medical study has concluded that Trasylol increases a patient’s risks of death, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney failure. This data was comparable to a study that was previously completed that also indicated the administration of Trasylol during surgery dramatically increases a patient’s risks of life-threatening complications and death. This earlier study showed Trasylol use during surgery results in a 181% increased risk of stroke or encephalopathy, a 55% increased risk of heart attack or heart failure, and an over 200% increased risk of kidney failure.
What is also amazing is that Trasylol may actually be less effective than other drugs that were available before Trasylol. The alternative drugs, that could be used during surgery are generics that cost less and do not pose the same life-threatening dangers to patients as Trasylol. The better generics are readily available. It is important to note that the continued use of Trasylol imposes substantial and unnecessary risks on patients. Because of these risks, some scientists have concluded that Trasylol should not be used in cardiac surgery patients anymore. If you have had heart surgery, but are unsure whether you were given Trasylol, please contact our Law Firm for more information on obtaining your medical records and determining if your loss could have been avoided.
We hope that surgeons will listen to these doctors and scientists and replace Trasylol with available generics, they will help prevent kidney failure in patients following heart surgery. It is estimated that over 10,000 patients may be unnecessarily on kidney dialysis due to the use of Trasylol during open-heart sugery. If you want to know if Trasylol was used during your or your loved ones surgery - call us we can help you determine if Trasylol was used.
Call us toll free at 1-800-862-1260.
TRADEMARK NOTICE: Trasylol is a trademark of Bayer AG pharmaceuticals.
The Carabin & Shaw Law Firm, its' lawyers and this website is in no way affiliated with Bayer AG pharmaceuticals. The use of this mark is solely for informational and product identification purposes.
