Heparin Deaths

Heparin-bonded catheters are used to prolong the patency of central venous catheters in children. According to The Cochrane Collaboration (a database of systematic reviews of world healthcare),

“Central venous catheters are used for prolonged intravenous therapy in the management of critically ill children, for parenteral nutrition, medication and monitoring. Having these catheters in place can cause blood clots in or around the end of the catheter as well as infection, either local or a blood stream infection. As a result, the catheter becomes blocked, eventually to the point that it is occluded and can no longer be used to give fluids. Anticoagulant drugs such as heparin can be given to prolong the usefulness of the catheter or the catheters coated with heparin (heparin-bonded catheters). Heparin can cause side effects such as bleeding, allergic reactions, induced thrombocytopenia (an abnormal drop in the number of platelets in the blood) and osteoporosis with long-term use.”

It is not clearly established how much heparin increases the patency of catheters, “There was a trend towards the heparin-bonded catheter reducing the risk of catheter-related thrombosis over the time the catheter was in and a trend towards reduction in the risk of catheter occlusion in the first week after catheter placement.”

Heparin is intended to reduce the risks of catheter-related infections and other problems. Clearly, studies are not based on the incidence of contaminated lots of heparin which introduce risks and risk factors not included in clinical trials. The advantage of using a heparin-bonded catheter over a standard catheter is not a clear advantage, but exposing children to contaminated heparin would not be seen as preferable on any level.

– Baby O. was born March 9, 2007 with choroid plexus carcinoma (brain tumor).  He underwent surgery to remove the entire tumor and began chemotherapy in April.  To administer his treatment, doctors inserted a broviac catheter that was flushed with heparin twice daily to prevent the catheter from clogging.  Until September 2007, Baby O. was responding positively to chemotherapy and was showing signs of improvement. Late that month, however, he suddenly began suffering from respiratory distress, went into renal failure and ultimately passed away on November 19, 2007.  Baby O.’s physicians were baffled by the sudden unexplained deterioration in his condition.  

On August 26, 2008, Nolan Law Group filed a wrongful death case in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, located in Chicago, against Baxter International, Inc. and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.  

– In January of this year, Little Girl B was diagnosed with a subdural empyema (pus on the brain sometimes caused by sinusitis).  Little Girl B underwent surgery with no complications that successfully removed the pus.  After the procedure, physicians inserted a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC line) for antibiotic medication to prevent post-surgery infection.  The PICC line was flushed with heparin to keep the antibiotics free-flowing.  Doctors expected Little Girl B to fully recover, but soon after they began administering heparin flushes, Little Girl B. developed a high fever and was re-hospitalized.  Blood tests came back negative for infection despite Little Girl B.’s increasing symptoms which included a rash, very low blood pressures, nausea, vomiting and seizures.   Little Girl B. passed away on February 9, 2008.

Nolan Law Group filed suit in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois against Baxter International, Inc. and Baxter Healthcare Corporation on October 7, 2008.  

Heparin-bonded catheters, on theory, were meant to give a promising edge to children in high risk situations. The results were far less than hoped for when contamination entered into the picture, and tragically, fatal for Baby O and Little Girl B.


This information about the heparin catastrophe is provided by Attorney Gordon Johnson, in conjunction with the Nolan Law Group of Chicago, IL. The Johnson Law Office is affiliated with The Nolan Law Group on Heparin litigation. The Nolan Law Group is presently involved in the litigation on behalf of those affected by the distribution of contaminated heparin.

www.heparin-law.com

---

Attorney Gordon Johnson
Chair Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, American Association of Justice
g@gordonjohnson.com :: 800-992-9447 :: Attorney Gordon S. Johnson, Jr.

http://subtlebraininjury.com :: http://brainanatomyguide.com :: http://car-accident-rain.com :: http://tbilaw.com
http://waiting.com :: http://vestibulardisorder.com :: http://youtube.com/profile?user=braininjuryattorney