The side effects of an ischemic stroke are well-known. Memory problems, vision challenges, partial paralysis, and speech-related deficits are a few of the many potential outcomes. What is less understood is the process by which these symptoms occur, and the reasons their presentation varies so significantly from patient to patient. We’ll address both issues below.

Why A Stroke Presents Immediate Side Effects

If you suffer a pulmonary embolism or heart attack, symptoms will typically evolve slowly (unless you’re experiencing a massive event). They may take several hours to reach their maximal level. With Yaz side effects involving a stroke, deficits occur suddenly, and reach their peak severity within minutes.

Your brain tissue requires a constant supply of oxygen, nutrients, and blood in order to function properly. It receives these things through the vertebral, basilar, and internal carotid arteries. When any of these arteries become blocked, the blood supply is interrupted. This causes the underlying brain tissue to begin dying.

Even though your brain tissue can live for two or three minutes without nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood, it stops functioning within seconds. This is the reason symptoms present immediately following a stroke.

Why Stroke Side Effects Vary By Patient

Some survivors will experience visual impairments; others will suffer an inability to understand language; and still others may experience vertigo or one-sided weakness. The presentation of stroke varies based on the area of the brain that has been affected.

Your brain is comprised of three main sections: the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brain stem. The cerebrum is further divided into lobes – namely, the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes. Each of these areas is supplied with blood through specific arteries. The symptoms you experience following a stroke depend on the location of the blockage.

Brain stem strokes are rare. When they occur, they are usually fatal since this area of the brain controls vital functions (e.g. heart rate, body temperature, breathing, etc.). Strokes affecting the cerebellum are also uncommon, though seldom terminal; this area influences balance, coordination, and reflexes.

Most strokes impact the cerebrum. Each of the cerebrum’s four lobes influences different functions, and thus blockages in each lobe will trigger different side effects. Moreover, a brain injury that occurs on the left side of the cerebrum will affect the right side of your body, and vice versa.

Why Some Symptoms Seem More Severe Than Others

There are two reasons many side effects can seem more severe than others. First, some strokes will trigger deficits in areas that may not be regularly used, or are difficult to notice. For example, a blockage that affects the frontal lobe may result in a lack of initiative in the survivor. This impairment is difficult to recognize. By contrast, a brain injury in the occipital lobe may present visual hallucinations. This is very easy to identify.

The second reason stroke side effects vary in severity is more straightforward. It involves the extent of the brain injury. When your brain tissue is starved of blood, the damage it sustains worsens with each passing second. The more extensive the damage, the more severe the symptom. For example, a stroke that affects the temporal lobe, but is treated quickly, may only result in mild, one-sided hearing loss. If treatment is delayed, however, you may experience a severe hearing deficit on one side. The same principle is true any type of brain injury.

Yaz stroke symptoms are as varied as they are serious. Some may be temporary while others are permanent. If you have suffered DVT, pulmonary embolism, stroke, gallbladder disease or other Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz side effects, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact one of our Yaz lawyers to discuss your options. We are currently representing women throughout the United States.

Inflammation of the organ’s lining causes intense abdominal pain. Along with nausea and vomiting, this pain typically lasts for several hours. Together, these symptoms are usually enough to motivate people to seek emergency medical care.

Occasionally, those who suffer from Yaz gallbladder disease allow the inflammation to persist. This exposes them to several dangerous outcomes, including infection, perforation of the gall bladder, and gangrene.

Bacterial Colonization And Infection

Bacteria is present in bile fluid. This poses little to no risk, however, as long as the flow of bile remains unhampered. When Yaz gallstones prevent bile from exiting the gallbladder, bacteria flourishes and sets the stage for infection.

If infection remains localized within the gall bladder, its effects will be limited. On the other hand, it may spread into the cystic duct. If bacteria continues to propagate, and colonizes the common bile duct, a condition called acute cholangitis may present. As bacteria continues to spread unchecked, it eventually enters the bloodstream. This exposes you to serious infections throughout the rest of the body.

Thickening And Scarring Of The Gall Bladder’s Wall

After bacterial colonization has caused infection within the gall bladder, the organ may fill with pus. This is known as empyema, a condition that typically affects the pleural space between the lungs and chest wall. As pus begins to fill the gall bladder, the organ starts to thicken.

Recurring gallbladder attacks that result from chronic infection will eventually cause scarring along the inner wall of the organ. Your gall bladder will shrink, becoming unable to perform its job of storing concentrating bile fluid.

Fistulas And Perforations

Infection, inflammation, and the presence of Yaz gallstones can lead to an erosion of the gall bladder’s wall. If, while this occurs, the organ adheres to another organ nearby (e.g. the small intestine), a channel may open between them. This is called a fistula. Fistulas are dangerous because material (i.e. bile, stones, etc.) from the gall bladder may spill into the other organ. If the stones are large enough and gain direct access to the small intestine, they may cause an intestinal blockage. This is dangerous and can be life-threatening.

The gallbladder’s wall may erode to the point a hole is exposed. This is a perforation, which is estimated to occur in one of ten diagnosed cases of gall bladder disease. When the organ become perforated, its contents can spill into the abdominal cavity. Like fistulas, the condition is serious and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Bile fluid and stones that leak into the abdominal cavity will cause inflammation of the abdomen’s lining (i.e. peritoneum). This leads to infection.

Death Of The Gallbladder’s Tissue

Severe Yaz gallbladder disease that is left untreated for a prolonged period can lead to the death of the organ’s tissue. This is called necrosis, which evolves into gangrene. As the tissue dies, it weakens. If pus has accumulated and pressure has increased within the organ, it may rupture. This can be fatal.

Gangrene of the gallbladder is rare in the U.S. since symptoms associated with severe inflammation typically cause people to seek medical attention. That said, it occasionally happens when a person neglects to seek treatment.

Many otherwise healthy women are exposed to Yaz gallbladder disease and the related complications described above. Though these outcomes rarely present, each is potentially life-threatening. If you or someone you know has suffered gallstones or other serious Yasmin, Ocella and Yaz gallbladder problems, you may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Yaz lawsuit lawyer to discuss your options.

Most cases of PE occur as the result of small clots in the arteries of the lungs. In this case, the condition is rarely life-threatening. It’s important to note, however, that a large clot can trigger a massive pulmonary embolism that leads to the death of the patient. It is estimated that one in ten people who experience a PE die within an hour of the first symptoms.

The clots responsible for a PE seldom form in the arteries of the lungs; they typically form in the legs. Below, you’ll learn how they travel to the lungs, and how a vena cava filter can be installed to catch them before they cause a blockage.

How Blood Clots In The Legs Can Cause A PE

All combination birth control pills contain estrogen. Yaz is one of the few oral contraceptives that also contains drospirenone, a synthetic progestin. Studies have shown birth control formulations containing estrogen and drospirenone pose a much higher risk of abnormal clotting over alternative formulations.

Clots often form in the femoral or popliteal veins of the legs. Whenever you move your legs, the muscles squeeze these veins, sending oxygen-depleted blood to your heart. Unfortunately, this activity can also dislodge existing blood clots, causing them to embolize. Detached from the venous wall, the emboli can be carried by your bloodstream toward your heart.

After blood arrives in your heart, it is pumped into your pulmonary arteries in order to receive oxygen from your lungs. Emboli are pumped in the same direction. They can travel downstream within one of these arteries until they become lodged and trigger a PE.

Preventing A Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Event

Doctors can address a pulmonary embolism by administering anticoagulants and thrombolytic medications. Large, life-threatening clots can be resolved with more aggressive measures, such as suction thrombectomy and pulmonary embolectomy.

If possible, however, your doctor will want to prevent a PE from occurring in the first place. One of the treatment strategies used to accomplish this goal is to install a vena cava filter.

When Is A Vena Cava Filter Used?

The preferred method for preventing a PE is to treat blood clots that are already present within the deep veins of the legs. This is usually done with anticoagulants; large clots that pose an immediate risk can be dissolved with thrombolytic drugs. In cases where these medications are contraindicated or insufficient, the next best solution is a vena cava filter.

Blood travels from your legs to your heart through the inferior vena cava. This is a large vein that connects your lower extremities to your heart. A filter can be installed within this vein to prevent emboli from reaching your lungs.

Prior to installation, your doctor will perform a venogram to identify a suitable installation site. Once a site is chosen, a filter is collapsed and attached to a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel near the groin (usually, the femoral vein) and passed through the vena cava to the selected site. The filter is then deployed (i.e. opened) at the site before the catheter is withdrawn and the entry site is closed. The entire procedure can normally be completed within thirty minutes.

Installing a vena cava filter can help prevent Yaz problems involving pulmonary embolism when anticoagulants and thrombolytic drugs cannot be used. However, because the filter is a foreign entity within your body, it can cause clots. In rare cases, these clots can break away from the filter and cause a PE.

If you have suffered from abnormal blood clots, pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease or other Yasmin, Ocella or Yaz side effects, you may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Contact a Yaz lawsuit lawyer to discuss your case.

These veins are surrounded by muscles. The muscles contract around them, and pump blood into your inferior vena cava, a large vein that delivers deoxygenated blood to the right side of your heart. These contractions can also dislodge clots. If this happens, the thrombi will travel with your bloodstream toward your heart. If they migrate into your lungs, they will trigger a PE, which in turn, may cause pulmonary hypertension. Both conditions are potentially life-threatening.

Permanent Lung Scarring

Your lungs receive blood from the right side of your heart via the pulmonary arteries. If an embolus is pumped from the right ventricle (i.e. lower chamber of the heart) into one of these arteries, it may cause an obstruction. If the passage of blood becomes completely blocked, the section of lung tissue supplied by the blocked artery will begin to starve.

Your lung tissue will not die immediately. Even in the event it sustains damage, it can heal. But this is predicated on your doctor’s ability to diagnose the condition quickly and accurately, and treat it before damage can spread. If too much time passes, the affected tissue will begin to scar. At that point, much of the damage becomes permanent.

Scarred lung tissue cannot oxygenate blood for the rest of your body. Thus, substantial scarring can result in damage to your other organs. You may also experience difficulty maintaining strenuous activity for extended periods.

Rising Blood Pressure In The Heart And Lungs

When a pulmonary embolism restricts the passage of blood through a pulmonary artery, your heart’s right ventricle starts to work harder. It pumps more aggressively in order to move the same volume of blood through the constricted space. The result is rising blood pressure in the lungs and the right side of your heart. This is a condition known as pulmonary hypertension.

Blood Clots In The Heart’s Chambers

One of the potential side effects caused by the rising blood pressure in your heart and lungs is an irregular heartbeat (i.e. arrhythmia). There are many types of arrhythmias, including premature atrial and ventricular contractions and various tachycardias. One form of arrhythmia called atrial fibrillation is particularly problematic because it poses a high risk of clotting in the heart.

With atrial fibrillation, the atria (i.e. the heart’s two upper chambers) flutter rapidly rather than beating in a uniform manner. This erratic rhythm prevents the chambers from emptying properly. Blood is allowed to pool and grow stagnant within them, which eventually leads to clots. If these clots develop within the left atrium or ventricle, they can exit the heart, and travel to a carotid artery. There, they can cause a stroke.

Right Ventricular Failure

As the blood pressure in your heart and lungs continues to rise, the workload placed upon the right ventricle increases. The ventricle persists, and pumps harder in order to push blood toward the lungs. To increase its capacity, the chamber becomes larger and thicker. But eventually, it wears out, ending in right-sided heart failure. While the condition is not always fatal, it may become so in the absence of quick treatment.

Doctors are supposed to warn women about the dangers of blood clots involving pulmonary embolism posed by this birth control pill. But many women remain unaware of the serious medical problems that can result. If you have suffered DVT, PE, pulmonary hypertension, or other Yaz side effects, you may be able to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yaz lawsuit lawyer to discuss your options.

When thrombi remain in the deep veins, they cause localized swelling and pain. In some cases, the surface of your skin may appear discolored. These symptoms develop slowly over time. If clots migrate into the arteries, they can prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching your organs and tissues. This can lead to medical emergencies, including pulmonary embolism, stroke, and heart attack.

It is important to diagnose blood clots before they can trigger dangerous health problems. Your doctor can use the following tests to do so.

Blood Tests

When a thrombus dissolves, it releases fibrin fragments known as D-dimers. These fragments serve as a marker that indicates the presence of clots. Thus, your physician may order a D-dimer test to check for these fragments.

The drawback to this test is that the level of D-dimers in your bloodstream may rise due to unrelated circumstances, such as infection or bruising. This limits the usefulness of this test. Consequently, it cannot be used to construct a conclusive diagnosis; it can only be used as a screening test. If results are positive, further testing is needed. If results are negative, thrombi are unlikely to exist, and testing can conclude.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to build images of your veins and internal structures. It is the most common test used for detecting venous clots. (Since arterial clots often cause medical emergencies, more invasive tests are used.)

Your doctor will apply a special gel over the area suspected of clotting. A small device called a transducer is then held against your skin. This device emits sound waves, which penetrate your skin and tissues, and bounce off the veins.

Doppler ultrasound (a variation of traditional ultrasound) can also be used. Rather than bouncing off the veins, the sound waves bounce off red blood cells. In both cases, the sound waves return to the transducer, which transfers them to a computer. The computer then builds 2-dimensional images that display your veins and reveal possible blockages.

Venography

Ultrasound may produce unclear results, which may prompt your doctor to order a venogram. This is a test in which a contrast dye is introduced to the suspected vein or artery. It may be done via injection or catheter, depending on the location of the Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz blood clots. X-rays are taken to display the dye as it flows through your blood vessels. This allows your doctor to visualize your venous and arterial network. Obstructions in these blood vessels become evident in areas where the dye’s passage is restricted.

Once considered the gold standard for diagnosing certain clot-related conditions (e.g. deep vein thrombosis), venography has largely been replaced with other diagnostic studies.

Helical Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

Helical CT scanning is a common alternative to ultrasound. It is often used when ultrasonography produces unclear results, but the patient prefers to avoid the invasive nature of a venogram. Traditional CT scans generated 2-dimensional images of the blood vessels and internal structures. Helical CT scanning uses a scanner that rotates around your body, taking a series of x-rays from different perspectives. These x-rays are then combined to produce 3-dimensional images that can display your venous and arterial networks with a higher degree of accuracy.

Once your doctor has formed a conclusive diagnosis for Yaz side effects involving blood clots, a treatment plan can be developed. The method of treatment will depend on the location of the thrombi and the dangers they present. For example, a small DVT in your legs may require little more than short-term use of anticoagulant medications. A Yaz pulmonary embolism, on the other hand, may require thrombolytic drugs, especially if there is a high risk of lung damage.

If you have suffered from Yaz problems, including DVT, PE, gallbladder disease or stroke, you may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injuries. Contact an experienced Yaz lawsuit attorney to discuss your case.

A DVT typically occurs in the legs. It is accompanied by pain and swelling as circulation becomes increasingly impaired. More worrisome, however, is that the condition may lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke, and other serious side effects. Given the right set of circumstances, a clot that forms in your legs can potentially lead to heart failure.

Blood Clot Migration From A DVT

Clots form along the walls of blood vessels where they remain attached until other forces intervene. In the case of DVT, the deep veins are buried within muscles. When you move your legs, these muscles contract around the veins. The contractions essentially pump blood from your legs to your heart and lungs, where the blood is replenished with oxygen.

The force of the muscles’ contractions can dislodge thrombi that are attached to the venous wall. The clots become emboli, free to roam with your bloodstream. As blood is pushed from your legs to your heart, so, too, are the detached clots.

The deep veins in your lower extremities drain into the inferior vena cava, the lower part of the largest blood vessel in your body. The inferior vena cava leads directly to your heart, and empties into the right atrium (i.e. one of the two upper chambers). From there, blood moves into the right ventricle before being pumped to your pulmonary arteries.

Unfortunately, emboli travel along this same path. They move into the pulmonary arteries and migrate downstream until they form a blockage, which prevents blood from reaching your lung tissue. This is a pulmonary embolism. In severe cases, it can be fatal.

The Effects On The Lungs And Heart

While Yaz problems caused by a PE should always be considered a medical emergency, the condition rarely results in death. More commonly, it causes lung tissue damage, and thus impairs the affected lung’s ability to oxygenate your blood. You may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, and persistent coughing. But a pulmonary embolism may have more serious side effects on your lungs and heart.

When a blockage exists within a pulmonary artery, your heart is forced to pump harder in order to deliver sufficient blood to your lungs. This increases the level of pressure in your lungs, a condition known as pulmonary hypertension. As your blood pressure rises, the right side of your heart tries to offset the increased workload; its walls becomes thicker and the ventricle expands.

This event is known as cor pulmonale. Unfortunately, this response only works for a short time. The pressure eventually places so much stress on your right ventricle that it fails.

When The Right Side Of Your Heart Fails

Symptoms of right ventricular failure often develop gradually, giving you an opportunity to seek medical care. You might notice progressive swelling in your legs due to fluid retention. You will also experience a marked shortness of breath that becomes steadily more pronounced. Because the right side of your heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to your lungs, less becomes available for the rest of your body. This eventually results in hypovolemic shock, a precursor to death.

In order for a deep vein thrombosis to lead to heart failure, an unlikely series of events much occur. But the risk is real. Nine out of ten cases of pulmonary embolism are caused by blood clots that travel from the deep veins in the legs to the lungs. Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure may follow.

If you or someone you know has suffered DVT, PE, or gallbladder disease side effects, you may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Yaz lawyer to discuss your case.

Cholangitis occurs as the result of a blockage in the bile duct. Such blockages can be due to strictures, tumors, or Yaz gallstones. Below, you’ll learn how the latter case happens as well as the dangers of leaving biliary infection untreated.

How Yaz And Gallstones Can Lead To Cholangitis

While any type of bile duct blockage can cause acute cholangitis, most diagnosed cases can be traced to gallstones. Stones normally form within the gallbladder, and remain there without triggering symptoms. These are known as “silent” stones; many women have them, yet are unaware they exist. Depending on their placement within the gallbladder and the organ’s motility (e.g. contractions), gallstones can migrate into the common bile duct.

If the stones are very small, they might pass through the duct into the small intestine, and eventually exit the body. Larger stones, however, can become lodged within the duct, and prevent bile from passing. This sets the stage for bacterial infection.

Bacteria is usually present throughout the biliary tract. Despite this, heavy colonization rarely occurs as long as bile fluid flows unimpeded through the common bile duct. The spread of bacteria is kept in check by your body’s immune system and natural antibacterial measures. An obstruction in the bile duct, however, is believed to impair both. When this happens, bacteria gains a foothold in the duct and small intestine.

Bacteria in the duodenum (upper portion of the small intestine) gains access to the lower portion of the bile duct, and ascends. Because your body’s ability to control its spread is impaired, heavy colonization occurs throughout the duct. Eventually, infection develops.

How Serious Is A Bile Duct Infection?

Initial symptoms are similar to those which present in cases of gallbladder disease. You may experience a sharp pain in your upper abdomen, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Jaundice, too, is common. The problem is worse than these symptoms suggest. Biliary infection can be fatal if it is left unresolved.

As infection spreads upward in the bile duct, it poses a serious danger to the liver. Pressure within the duct increases, and pushes the infection into the hepatic ducts. Once it reaches your liver, it can causes abscesses to form. Prolonged exposure can lead to permanent scarring (a condition known as cirrhosis).

If bacteria gains access to your bloodstream, infection may spread to other areas of your body. This exposes other organs, such as your kidneys and heart, to damage. Advanced cases of acute cholangitis can lead to sepsis as bacteria overwhelms the blood. Eventually, septic shock occurs; the mortality rate in such cases is very high.

Treating The Infection And Clearing The Blockage

Most people respond to intravenous delivery of antibiotics. However, in many cases, the pressure within the biliary tree prevents sufficient secretion of the antibiotics from the liver. Endoscopic drainage is necessary to relieve the pressure.

After the biliary infection has been treated and brought under control, Yaz gallbladder side effects caused by gallstones present within the bile duct must be removed. The most effective method for retrieving the stones is with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined with endoscopic sphincterotomy. An endoscope is advanced down the throat and toward the sphincter of Oddi, the valve that separates the duodenum and the common bile duct. The location of the obstructing stones is identified, and the stones are withdrawn.

Many women are unaware they are exposed to dangerous medical conditions as the result of gallstones. If you have suffered from gallstones, gallbladder disease, or other side effects of Yasmin, Ocella and Yaz birth control, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact an experienced Yaz attorney to discuss your options including the latest Yaz lawsuit settlements news.

Most stones are asymptomatic, and thus rarely cause problems. Known as silent stones, they remain dormant inside the gallbladder. They can unexpectedly trigger symptoms, however, if they prevent bile fluid from exiting the gall bladder. Moreover, if they migrate outside the organ and into the common bile duct, they can cause inflammation, infection, and even acute pancreatitis. Below, we’ll describe the process doctors use to diagnose gallstones.

Pancreatitis, IBS, And Other Competing Diagnoses

Diagnosing stones is often difficult because the most common symptom, abdominal pain, can be caused by other conditions (e.g. appendicitis, chronic gastritis, etc.). Given that most gallstones are asymptomatic, identifying them does not necessarily mean they are the root cause of the pain felt by the patient. Hence, competing diagnoses must be ruled out before a treatment plan can be created.

Because pancreatitis produces the same type of abdominal pain as Yaz side effects involving gallstones, distinguishing between the two conditions is difficult. Doing so is important, however, since they are treated differently. Presentation of pancreatitis must either be confirmed or ruled out before forming a conclusive diagnosis for stones.

IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) must also be ruled out. The condition mimics symptoms associated with digestive problems stemming from insufficient bile flow. It is most pronounced after eating foods with a high fat content.

These and many other disorders represent hurdles along the path toward diagnosing the presence of stones within the biliary system. They must be excluded to ensure gallstones and gallbladder problems are treated appropriately.

External And Endoscopic Ultrasound

Following a physical exam and blood work, your doctor will use ultrasound to look for indications of stones. This is first done externally with a transducer. If results are inconclusive, it may be done endoscopically. Ultrasound is the first choice of diagnostic studies since it is noninvasive, fast, and easy to perform.

An external ultrasound is useful if the suspected gallstones are at least two millimeters in diameter, and located within the gallbladder. If the stones are smaller, or have migrated into the common bile duct, conventional ultrasound may fail to reveal them. In such cases, endoscopic ultrasound is more reliable.

An endoscope is advanced through the mouth and down the throat. Your doctor will pass the instrument through your stomach and into the top portion of your small intestine. The tip of the endoscope is equipped with a tiny transducer that emits sound waves throughout the biliary system. These sound waves bounce back to the tip of the endoscope, providing data with which detailed images can be formed.

Gallbladder Radionuclide Scan

This test is sometimes called a HIDA scan, or cholescintigraphy. It is slightly more invasive than external ultrasound because it involves the introduction of a radioactive dye into your bloodstream. The dye is injected, and allowed to flow through your liver and into the hepatic, cystic, and common bile ducts.

A special gamma camera that detects radioactive material is used to take x-rays of your biliary system. The x-rays display the flow of the dye. If the images show that the dye is failing to enter the gall bladder, it indicates the cystic duct is blocked. Blockages in the common bile duct are likewise displayed.

While cholescintigraphy is unable to display gallstones, it can reveal circumstances (e.g. obstructed ducts) that suggest their presence.

Other tests, such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), are occasionally used to detect abnormalities in the biliary tree. But due to their cost and need for specialized skill and equipment, they are mostly reserved for confirming suspicions of bile duct stones.

If you have suffered from gallstones, gallbladder disease, or other gallbladder problems after using Yasmin, Ocella or Yaz birth control, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. Contact a Yaz settlement attorney to discuss your options.

Starved of blood, the lung tissue will eventually sustain damage. In many cases, the damage becomes permanent; the tissue is replaced with scarring. This leads to chronic impairment of lung function and its accompanying side effects.

Some people experience a mild PE absent of noticeable symptoms. Others experience a massive blockage of the pulmonary arteries, which can be life-threatening. While such blockages are rare, they can cause sudden death. For this reason, your doctor may use one or more aggressive treatment measures to eliminate large blood clots in the lungs.

Thrombolytic Therapy: Clot-Busting Medications

Thrombolytic drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), streptokinase, and urokinase are used to dissolve thrombi. They do so by targeting the fibrin strands that form a protective mesh over the obstructing clot’s platelet plug. The medications activate plasminogen, which turns into plasmin. Plasmin then digests the fibrin strands. With the strands dissolved, the base plug breaks apart.

These medications are typically delivered through a catheter, though they are occasionally administered intravenously or via injection. The advantage to using them is that results can be produced quickly. The downside is that thrombolytic therapy sharply increases the risk of internal bleeding. Consequently, if you have an existing clotting disorder or have undergone recent surgery, these drugs may not be given. Much depends on the size of the arterial obstruction and the potential damage it poses to your lung tissue.

Suction Thrombectomy: Catheter-Directed Clot Extraction

If thrombolytics are contraindicated, your doctor may perform a catheter technique called suction thrombectomy. A catheter is inserted into a vein near your groin. It is then passed through the inferior vena cava, and advanced through the right side of your heart. Your doctor will direct the catheter into the blocked pulmonary artery, moving it next to the obstructing blood clot.

A saline-based solution is then introduced into the occluded artery. It is done so with sufficient pressure to create a vacuum. The clot is thus drawn toward the tip of the catheter, which is equipped with a device that is designed to shatter it. The individual fragments are then withdrawn.

The danger with suction thrombectomy is that the procedure may dislodge the obstructing clot, sending it further downstream in the blocked artery.

Pulmonary Embolectomy: Surgical Removal Of Thrombi

In rare circumstances, surgery may be necessary to remove a large clot from a blocked pulmonary artery, and restore blood flow to your lungs. This is done using a procedure called pulmonary embolectomy. It is reserved for situations in which a PE has placed your life in danger, and other treatments are ill-advised or have proven to be ineffective.

The operation is often performed through open chest surgery (i.e. thoracotomy). Your heart will be stopped and connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass. This is a device that takes over the task of blood circulation for your heart.

Your surgeon will cut through and split your breastbone to gain access to your lungs and the occluded pulmonary artery. An incision is then made into the artery near the blockage, and the blood clot is removed. To prevent subsequent Yaz problems caused by PE, your doctor may install a vena cava filter. This is a device designed to catch emboli (i.e. migrating masses, such as clots) as they travel from your legs to your lungs.

Pulmonary embolism symptoms are rarely lethal. Clots that form in the legs and migrate to the lungs are generally small. They can, however, cause lung damage if they block a pulmonary artery. If you have suffered blood clots, PE, or other side effects after using Ocella, Yasmin or Yaz birth control, you may have the right to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yaz lawsuit settlements lawyer to discuss your case.

Among the side effects that impair your cognitive function is a condition called aphasia. This is a language disorder that affects your ability to communicate. It can manifest in various ways, depending on the area of your brain that sustained damage during the stroke. The severity of the condition is based on the extent of the arterial blockage and how much time passes before it is resolved.

Common Types Of Language Impairments

Aphasia affects one in four people who experience an ischemic stroke. It can influence the manner in which you comprehend what others are saying as well as your ability to produce speech. It can also affect your ability to read and write.

There are three main forms of this condition: Wernicke’s, Broca’s, and global aphasia. Wernicke’s aphasia (sometimes called receptive aphasia) influences your comprehension of written and spoken language. It also makes your own speech incomprehensible to others. Your spoken words may be valid and grammatically correct, but are strung together in sentences that make little to no sense. For example, if you suffered from Wernicke’s aphasia, you might say, “My dress has a moon in the blanket.” This can be frustrating because you will think your speech is easily understood by others.

Broca’s aphasia (sometimes called motor, or expressive, aphasia) influences your production of speech. It leaves other areas of language unaffected. You will be able to comprehend what you read and hear, but will have difficulty forming understandable words and sentences. This form of the condition can be particularly exasperating since the survivor is unable to express her thoughts in a way that others can understand them.

Yaz side effects caused by a stroke can leave survivors with global aphasia will experience traits that are characteristic of both Wernicke’s and Broca’s aphasia. This form of the condition occurs when the carotid arterial blockage is severe enough to injure multiple language areas of the brain. You will likely have trouble understanding what others are saying, and have difficulty speaking. However, you might still be able to understand – and communicate through – written language.

How Yaz Stroke-Induced Aphasia Is Treated

Occasionally, the effects of aphasia recede on their own without treatment. This is commonly referred to as “spontaneous recovery.” In most cases, however, ongoing therapy is a necessary ingredient for regaining language functions lost following a Yaz stroke.

Therapy for aphasia is done in different ways according to the form of the condition suffered and the stimuli to which the stroke survivor responds. Over the years, speech pathologists have learned that certain approaches to therapy yield more positive results than others.

For example, outcomes are more productive when therapy is intense. That is, a defined number of hours allocated for treatment is best delivered over a shorter number of days. Also, outcomes are more productive when more than one type of sensory stimuli is used. So, music, pictures, speech, and written language may be employed simultaneously during treatment sessions.

Speech pathologists use a variety of therapeutic methods. They can range from helping survivors process the emotional context of language (used in cognitive linguistic therapy) to promoting semantic understanding (used in stimulation-facilitation therapy). Therapists may recommend a one-on-one approach or they might conduct group sessions.

In some cases, treatment for aphasia may include medications. But it’s worth noting their efficacy is still being investigated, and thus their use is considered largely experimental.

Language impairments are one of many potential Yaz birth control side effects. While aphasia can be treated, some of its effects may prove to be persistent. If you have suffered blood clots, stroke, or pulmonary embolism after using Ocella, Yasmin and Yaz birth control, you may have a right to file a claim against the manufacturer. Contact a Yaz lawsuit attorney to discuss your legal options.