Why would a heart surgeon want to use the Trasylol heart drug that increased the risk of massive bleeding and death? Why would a heart surgeon want to use a heart agent like Trasylol that increased the risk of heart attacks? Why would a heart hospital want to increase the risk of stroke from Trasylol?
Numerous heart surgical centers participated in a study to answer these questions and more.
The heart surgery drug is known as Trasylol. In a recent study conducted by numerous hospitals and heart surgery centers, Trasylol, a heart drug costing $1,400 was tested along with tranexamic acid and aminocaproic acid, both considerably less expensive and as low costing as $4 per dose.
If all things were equal, why would a heart surgical center want to pay at least $1,000 more? However, the study proved that not only did Trasylol cost obscenely more but that it caused a higher rate of death, increased risk of heart attacks and increased risks of strokes, than the more effective and less expensive alternatives.
In 1993, the FDA approved the use of Trasylol to reduce blood loss during coronary-artery bypass grafting; Trasylol became widely used in heart surgery. In 2006, the use of Trasylol became controversial Trasylol was associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke, and death in a large observational study.
Before the most recent study, analysis of clinical trials gave no indication of an excess risk of death associated with Trasylol, findings that played an important role in the FDA’s decision in 2006 not to add a black-box warning to the Trasylol label.
Of 2,328 patients who were included in the analysis for the cause of death, 25 deaths were attributed to a cardiac cause in the Trasylol group, as compared with 10 deaths in the tranexamic acid group and 13 in the aminocaproic acid group. Trasylol was associated with an increased risk of death from a heart-related cause when both lysine-analogue groups were combined. Deaths attributed to other causes were similar in the three study groups. All rates of adverse events, including stroke, myocardial infarction, and kidney failure and dysfunction, and rates of organ failure were also similar in the three groups.
Trasylol did not appear to prevent massive bleeding or save the life of patients who had massive bleeding.
The most recent student proved there should be less emphasis on comparisons
of new agents with placebos and more comparisons with other available drugs. Is there a class of patients who Trasylol is an acceptable choice? Probably not.
Has a loved one died from a Trasylol heart attack, Trasylol massive bleeding during heart surgery, Trasylol kidney failure, or Trasylol stroke?
You are not alone. Find out if you or your family is eligible to file a Trasylol heart failure lawsuit. Do not wait too long as every state has a statute of limitations for filing these kinds of lawsuits. Contact Monheit Law to find out how we can help you. Please answer a few questions so we can evaluate your case. Thank you.
