GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte® are kidney dialysis devices that have been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and other catastrophic cardiovascular injuries.
If you or a loved one received kidney dialysis treatment using one of these medical devices and suffered severe injuries or heart conditions, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the North Carolina Dug Injury attorneys at Henson Fuerst or fill out a free consultation form online to find out how we may be able to help.
What is Kidney Dialysis?
Dialysis is a medical procedure that simulates the functions of a healthy kidney in patients that are experiencing renal failure. The American Kidney Foundation estimates that 468,000 Americans are currently on dialysis.
During dialysis, patients are injected with alkaline substances in order to neutralize acids in the bloodstream. This procedure removes waste materials and maintains safe levels of other chemicals in the blood, such as potassium and bicarbonate. For hundreds of thousands of patients, dialysis can be a life-saving procedure.
However, if patients receive the wrong dosage of alkaline materials during dialysis, they can develop a serious medical condition known as metabolic alkalosis.
Alkalosis is a risk factor for several more dangerous medical conditions, including:
- Low blood pressure
- Hypokalemia – Potassium deficiency in the bloodstream
- Hypoxemia – Low oxygen concentration in the bloodstream
- Hypercapnia – Excessive levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bloodstream
- Arrhythmia – Irregular heartbeat
All of the above conditions can lead to heart attack, cardiopulmonary arrest, and death.
FDA Investigation & Failure to Warn
In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Class 1 Recall notice for Fresenius Medical Care’s GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte® kidney dialysis products. The FDA’s investigation of GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte® revealed that many patients using these dialysis products were subjected to dosing errors, and developed serious heart problems as a result.
Further, internal memos obtained by the New York Times show that Fresenius Medical Care, the manufacturers of GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte®, were aware of the serious risks associated with their products. However, Fresenius failed to immediately warn doctors at many medical centers using GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte® about the serious threat to patient safety that these products posed.
Hundreds of dialysis clinics continued to use GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte®, putting the safety and lives of their already sick patients in jeopardy.
Henson Fuerst is Here to Help
If you or a loved one experienced heart problems, heart attack or any other serious injury after using GranuFlo® and NaturaLyte® dialysis, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and medical bills. Call Henson Fuerst right away at (919) 781-1107 or fill out a free consultation form online to find out how our legal team may be able to help.
When you call, you will speak with an experienced North Carolina Drug Injury attorney absolutely FREE. We will investigate every detail of your accident at no cost to you and fight hard to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries.
At Henson Fuerst, you will never pay an attorney’s fee up front and you owe us nothing unless we recover for you. Henson Fuerst has extensive experience standing up to drug manufacturers on behalf of our clients, and we can help you too.
