Personal Injury Law

HEPARIN SODIUM INJECTION MANUFACTURED BY BAXTER

By Beth Janicek

I have recently made several posts regarding Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT and/or HITT). As I am handling several cases related to HIT and/or HITT, in my research I have found several informative articles related to Heparin and it's uses in medical treatment. In the next several days I would like share with you this information through my posts.

What is Heparin and what is it used for?

Heparin is a class of medication called anticoagulants, commonly referred to as blood thinners. Heparin makes an anti-clotting protein in your body work better, thus decreasing the clotting ability of the blood. Heparin is made from pig intestines and is available as a solution to be injected by IV or deeply under the skin; and as a dilute solution to be injected into IV catheters. The medication is used to prevent and treat blood clots in the veins, arteries and lungs. Certain types of surgery, including coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and in kidney patients before they undergo dialysis, commonly use Heparin prior to surgery.

Medical devices and some diagnostic testing products are manufactured using heparin. FDA is aware that some of these products have been affected by the recent contamination. Questions and Answers on Herparin, Medical Devices and In-vitro Diagnostic Assays.

In my blog in the upcoming days I will further discuss additional information from the Federal Drug Administrations (FDA) on Heparin and contaminated heparin.

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on June 24, 2008 (boomark / email).