February 23, 2006 at 19:52:52

Drug Alert - Trasylol Blamed For Lethal Injuries During Surgery

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By Evelyn Pringle (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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CABG is the most commonly performed major surgery in the US, with approximately half a million patients undergoing the procedures each year, according to Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2005 Update.

Experts say the IREF study provides compelling evidence of serious risks caused by Trasylol, and calls for the discontinuation of the drug and replacement with one of the 2 alternative products.

Neither aminocaproic or tranexamic was associated with an increased risk of renal, cardiac or cerebral events and both are much cheaper, costing $11 and $44 per dose, respectively, compared to the $1,300 per dose price tag of Trasylol.

The researchers estimate that by switching from Trasylol to the alternatives, $250 million a year could be saved in health care costs, in addition to helping over 10,000 patients a year to avoid the dangers and cost of kidney dialysis.

The findings of the Trasylol study is the 4th major cost-saving discovery by Dr. Mangano and his IREF-McSPI colleagues over the past ten years.

In other studies, according to the Baltimore Sun, "the group has shown that giving inexpensive beta-blockers after major surgery could save 250,000 lives per year, that aspirin use after heart surgery reduces the risk of blood clots and that the painkiller Bextra is associated with stroke and impaired wound healing."

In 1996, the team found that generic beta-blockers reduced death after major surgery, saving 250,000 lives a year at a cost of a mere $15 per patient, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.

In 2002, Dr. Mangano recommended giving heart patients aspirin immediately after surgery to reduce the threat of thrombosis. This is now a standard practice and saves over 25,000 lives a year at a cost of pennies per patient.

In 2003, IREF- McSPI reported for the first time that Bextra, was associated with stroke and impaired wound healing, eventually leading to the drug's recall, according to J Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

For 2005, according to Bloomberg News, Bayer predicted Trasylol sales to bring in $614 million. However, on January 26, 2006, Bloomberg reported that shares of Bayer, "the German drugmaker that invented aspirin, fell 48 cents ... at the close of trading in Frankfurt after U.S. researchers published their findings in this week's New England Journal of Medicine."

If the IREF's findings result in the removal of Trasylol, the loss in sales could push Bayer stock-value into a free-fall during 2006.

The problem for surgery patients who may have been harmed by Trasylol, is that most people are never told what drugs they received during surgery. And while Trasylol is only approved for heart surgery, the drug has been used off-label during many other types of surgeries as well.

So who knows how many unsuspecting victims have been injured by this drug while under the knife.

Injured parties seeking justice can find more information at: Lawyers and Settlements

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/trasylol.html

Evelyn Pringle
evelyn.pringle@sbcglobal.net

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