Kidney Dialysis and Wrongful Death Caused by Granuflo and Naturalyte

Were you seriously harmed due to the improper use of GranuFlo or NaturaLyte during dialysis?

Dialysis works with two fluids – one is a drug known as dialysate and the other is the patient’s own blood. When performed properly, dialysis helps maintain the correct acid balance in the blood stream. The acid build up in the blood stream is treated with a bicarbonate. But when the bicarb levels are not treated appropriately, the patient can get a condition known as metabolic acidosis. This increases the risk for cardiovascular problems and wrongful death.
Studies have shown that the use of Granuflo and Naturalyte lead to the production of increased bicarbonate levels. Because there were no warnings, doctors tended to over-prescribed this bicarbonate.
These problems resulted in an FDA recall in March 2012 that required revised prescribing instructions.  According to the GranuFlo recall, the use of GranuFlo, as well as the similar drug NaturaLyte, can lead to heart problems such as low blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmia, which can cause cardio-pulmonary arrest or even wrongful death. This was a class 1 recall – the most serious kind of recall.
There is some evidence that the manufacturer knew of the serious risks involved before the drug was recalled and the company knew that patients with excess levels of bicarbonate in their blood were six times more likely to have cardiac arrest that those with normal levels of bicarbonate.
If you or your loved one has experienced the effects of Granuflo or Naturalyte. Call us at (214) 651-6100 for a free consultation.