Personal Injury Law

Two Die at Delaware Hospital After Taking Heparin

By Beth Janicek

Medical care providers at a Delaware Hospital and U.S. health officials are investigating the deaths of two patients that may have been related to a brand of heparin blood thinner Baxter Internal Inc. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that the situation 'appears to be an isolated incident.'

Although there is no specific evidence tying heparin to the illnesses, use of Baxter's heparin has been suspended at Beebe Medical Center where adverse reactions were reported in five patients. Erin Gardiner, Baxter spokeswoman said that they 'have not received any similar reports of adverse events from any other hospital regarding this widely-used product.

Last year after roughly 80 deaths were linked to contaminated heparin, Baxter recalled the medicine from several companies. Heparin is used largely before kidney dialysis and before major surgeries such as heart operations. The heparin used in these patients at Beebe Medical Center came in pre-mixed bags and was not the same product sold in vials that was part of the global recall last year. The heparin came from a North American derived bulk material supplied by Pfizer and not from the heparin Baxter claimed was altered in the China-based supply. Pfizer, based in New York, has not received any other reports of adverse reactions from heparin.

The two patients in Delaware, a 71-year old man and a 64-year old woman, did not have severe hypertension, or low blood pressure like the earlier cases. The symptoms involved intracranial bleeding. Wallace Hudson, Beebe Medical Center spokesman said, 'We are not pointing fingers at Baxter. We don't know what's going on, but heparin is the only commonality that we were able to see ourselves.'

The hospital informed Baxter on Friday that the patients had become ill, and the company immediately contacted the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA sent medical teams to Delaware, and an FDA agent drove samples of the heparin bags directly to an agency laboratory in Queens, NY. The FDA spokeswoman, Karen Riley said, 'Results of product testing to date by FDA and Baxter have not revealed any problems.'

Heparin has caused a flurry of litigation involving contaminated heparin and the allergic reaction, heparin induced thrombocytopenia, HIT. The injuries have been devastating. Our office is currently handling heparin related cases and would be happy to answer any questions.

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on May 15, 2009 (boomark / email).