GranuFlo or Naturalyte were recalled in June 2012 after being linked to heart attacks, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, and death. Many people were severely injured by these products during or after dialysis treatment. The manufacturer, Fresenius Medical Care, is now facing hundreds of lawsuits from plaintiffs who were not warned about the risk.
Do I Have a Dialysis Heart Attack Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured by GranuFlo or Naturalyte, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a dialysis heart attack lawsuit.
UPDATE: GranuFlo and Naturalyte Recalled
ATTENTION DIALYSIS PATIENTS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Class 1 recall of the dialysis products GranuFlo and Naturalyte due to the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, and death. If you or your loved one had a dialysis heart attack or other cardiovascular injury during dialysis, contact a lawyer at The Clark Firm, LLP. If GranuFlo or Naturalyte are responsible for your injury, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation.
GranuFlo and Dialysis Heart Attacks
Heart attacks are more common in dialysis patients, because people undergoing dialysis for kidney failure often have other health issues that increase the risk of cardiovascular problems (such as type-2 diabetes, being overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.). Unfortunately, there is strong evidence that dialysis patients who are treated with GranuFlo or Naturalyte have an even greater risk of heart attack and other life-threatening cardiovascular problems.
When a doctor is administering dialysis to a patient, the blood is treated with certain chemicals that balance the acidity and alkalinity of the blood. Bicarbonate is used to reduce acidity. Most dialysis products consist of acetic acid, but GranuFlo and Naturalyte consist of acetic acid plus acetate, which converts to bicarbonate inside the body. Essentially, the patient’s bicarbonate levels increase after GranuFlo and Naturalyte are administered.
If a physician is not very careful when administering GranuFlo or Naturalyte, the patient may suffer from a life-threatening bicarbonate overdose. The condition is called metabolic alkalosis, and patients with this condition are at risk of low blood pressure, sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, and death.
941 Deaths from Dialysis Heart Attacks at Fresenius Clinics
On November 4, 2011, Fresenius medical staff sent a memo to doctors working at Fresenius clinics to warn about improperly administering GranuFlo and Naturalyte. The staff noticed that there were 941 deaths at Fresenius clinics in 2010, which was unusually high. They also found that patients with high bicarbonate levels before dialysis were six times more likely to have a heart attack.
Fresenius warned their own doctors that GranuFlo and Naturalyte could cause a heart attack and death if the products were measured improperly. However, they did not notify the FDA or doctors using GranuFlo at other clinics.
Fresenius is now facing lawsuits from many people who allege that the company failed to warn about the risk of dialysis heart attacks. If you or your loved one suffered a dialysis heart attack, it is possible that GranuFlo was responsible. You could be entitled to significant compensation if you decide to file a lawsuit.
Dialysis and Heart Attacks
Patients treated with an improper dosage of GranuFlo or Naturalyte are at risk of sudden heart attacks. This condition occurs when a chemical change in the bloodstream interferes with the electrical activity in the heart, and the heart stops beating.
The heart is an electrical pump. An electrical circuit is generated at the top of the heart, and it runs through pathways to the two lower chambers. These chambers contract and pump blood into the body.
High bicarbonate levels in the bloodstream (a potential side effect of GranuFlo and Naturalyte) can short-circuit the electrical activity in the heart, causing sudden heart failure. The bottom chambers of the heart “flutter” ineffectively, and are unable to pump blood into the body. Without blood carrying oxygen to the internal organs, a person can suffer severe injury, permanent disability, or death within minutes of the event.
Symptoms of a Heart Attack
- chest pain, squeezing, or fullneess
- shortness of breath
- nausea, vomiting
- upper abdominal discomfort
- sweating
- heartburn or indigestion
- arm pain
- upper back pain
- feeling ill or anxious
Do I have a Dialysis Heart Attack Lawsuit?
Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.
Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”
The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free dialysis heart attack lawsuit review.
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