Product News and Recalls

New technology treats clots more quickly

A report in the Florida Sun Sentinel describes a new treatment for deep vein thrombosis, or a major blood clot. According to the article, DVT claims more lives each year than AIDS and car accidents combined.

The technology is called the EKOS Ultrasound Accelerated Thrombolysis machine, which uses ultrasound waves to distribute a powerful clot-busting medication throughout the blockage.

The report quotes Warren Swee, an interventional radiologist, as saying that EKOS treatment clears clots two to four times faster than traditional catheter therapies that don’t use ultrasound. That’s a major benefit for treating major blockages, because there’s less time for the clot to break off and travel to the lungs, causing a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism.

And some current treatments meant to safeguard against pulmonary embolism can be dangerous in themselves.

For example, IVC filters implanted in the major vein that leads from the legs to the right side of the heart are supposed to catch and stop blood clots moving through the bloodstream toward the lungs.

But a study conducted by the New England Society for Vascular Surgery found a 31 percent fracture rate in IVC filters. Broken filter shards traveling to patients’ hearts can be deadly.

The Sun Sentinel report cites statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the effect that 300,000 and 600,000 Americans are diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms resulting from DVT each year, and 60,000 to 100,000 of them die.

If you’ve received an IVC filter, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a IVC filter lawyer to discuss your legal rights.

See the story here:

https://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-08-19/health/fl-blood-clot-busting-technology-20120817_1_clot-deadly-pulmonary-embolism-deep-vein