Dangerous Drugs: Trasylol
Columbus, Ohio
Trasylol is Bayer's brand name for the drug aprotinin. This is an injectable antifibrinolytic medication used primarily during heart surgery, to prevent excessive blood loss.
Unlike less expensive, generic antifibrinolytic medications, however, Trasylol has been proven to increase a patient's risk of these and other dangers:
- Renal (kidney) failure
- Stroke
- Heart damage
- Other coronary and cerebral events
- Death
Studies published in the medical journal Transfusion and in the New England Journal of Medicine have shown that patients who receive Trasylol are 50% more likely to suffer these effects than patients given generic medications to reduce blood loss, and are even more susceptible to injury and death than patients not given any medication to control bleeding.
Some estimates say that as many as ten thousand patients have suffered kidney failure and require dialysis as a result of the use of Trasylol during surgical procedures.
Public Health Advisory
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory about the serious dangers of Trasylol, advising doctors to take the following actions:
- Monitor patients for potential toxicity after using Trasylol, particularly problems with the kidneys, heart, and central nervous system.
- Reconsider the use of Trasylol and evaluate the risks and benefits of the medication.
- Discuss major risks with patients, explaining the risks inherent in using Trasylol, and discussing alternative methods to control excess blood loss during heart surgery.
Options for patients
Unfortunately, many people who have been given Trasylol are not even aware of it. Because it is administered during a major surgical procedure, patients and their families may have not been thoroughly informed or advised about the medications used during the procedure, or informed of alternatives.
If you or someone you love is scheduled for heart surgery, ask your surgeon what medications he or she will be using during the procedure.
If you or a family member experienced side effects such as kidney failure, stroke, or other problems, and you suspect Trasylol may have been used, contact an experienced dangerous drug attorney today.
In Ohio, call or email Robert W. Kerpsack, Co., L.P.A., to schedule your free personal consultation.
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