Nuvaring Lawyer News

by Steve Fields on November 1st, 2011

Blood clots that develop in the legs, and migrate into the lungs, are the most common cause of Nuvaring side effects involving a pulmonary embolism. This is a potentially fatal condition. If you have suffered from serious side effects while using this birth control, please contact us and a Nuvaring lawyer can discuss your potential claims at no charge.

The lungs receive blood through the pulmonary arteries. When these vessels become blocked, blood is prevented from reaching the lung tissue. The lungs become unable to oxygenate sufficient blood for the rest of the body. In severe cases of PE, where a clot causes a substantial blockage in an artery, the patient’s heart begins to strain in order to push blood through the narrowed opening. This can lead to heart failure.

We’ll describe the most common forms of treating a PE below. Because of the dangers posed by the condition, it is considered a medical emergency.

Heparin And Warfarin To Prevent Further Coagulation

Once a pulmonary embolism has been diagnosed, doctors will normally give the patient anticoagulant drugs. The two main types are heparin and warfarin. Both medications interact with the body’s clotting mechanism (though in different ways) to reduce the rate of coagulation. This prevents existing thrombi (clots) from growing larger while also preventing new ones from forming.

Heparin is given through injection or IV, and interacts with the body’s clotting mechanism immediately. It comes in two forms: low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin. The former is preferred since it does not need to be monitored, and can be self-administered by the patient in his or her home. There is also evidence that LMWH is more effective for treating a PE.

Warfarin is given in pill form, and requires several days before it starts to interact with the body’s clotting system. Therapy begins while the patient is on heparin. Heparin is stopped once warfarin starts to have an effect. Most patients remain on warfarin for three to six months following a PE. But if the risk of subsequent clots is high, they may take the drug for years.

Both heparin and warfarin can cause severe bleeding. For this reason, anticoagulation therapy may be contraindictated if the patient suffers from an existing blood disorder.

Thrombolytic Medications To Dissolve Existing Clots

Thrombolytics are clot-dissolving drugs. They are given via IV or injection; occasionally, they may be delivered directly into the occluded artery through a catheter. While anticoagulants slow the rate of coagulation by inhibiting clotting factors, this class of medications actively breaks down clots. They contribute to the formation of plasmin by activating plasminogen. Plasmin cuts through fibrin strands, which make up the protective mesh that provides support for a thrombus. By causing fibrin to deteriorate, these drugs dissolve clots.

The most commonly used thrombolytic medications are tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), streptokinase, and urokinase. These drugs can cause severe bleeding, even more so than heparin and warfarin. Hence, they are seldom used to treat pulmonary embolism except in life-threatening circumstances. When the physician gives them to the patient, it is after weighing the risks of hemorrhage against the risk of not dissolving the obstructing thrombus.

Pulmonary Embolectomy For Clot Removal

On rare occasions, a blood clot may be removed from the lungs surgically or through a catheter. The procedure is called an embolectomy. It is performed when a thrombus presents an immediate danger, and other measures cannot be taken to treat it. For example, a massive Nuvaring pulmonary embolism may place the patient’s life at risk. Anticoagulants and thrombolytics may not be able to address the thrombus quickly enough. In this case, the doctor may decide an emergency embolectomy is warranted.

Vena Cava Filter To Prevent A Subsequent PE

Recall that the most common cause of Nuvaring side effects caused by a PE is a blood clot that forms in the legs. It travels to the heart and lungs through a large vein called the vena cava. A small filter can be positioned in this blood vessel to catch thrombi as they migrate. This prevents them from reaching the lungs, and triggering a PE. Vena cava filters are often installed in patients who have suffered past embolic episodes, and are at high risk for subsequent ones.

A pulmonary embolism is rarely fatal, but always dangerous. The outcome is largely determined by the size of a blockage, and how long it is allowed to persist. If you have suffered from blood clots, DVT, PE, or other serious Nuvaring side effects, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact a Nuvaring lawsuit settlements lawyer to discuss your options.