Yaz Class Action Lawsuit

by Steve Fields on April 22nd, 2010

Currently there is no national Yaz class action lawsuit filed and claims are being made invidually and are consolidated in multi-district litigation. Yaz and stroke risk may pose a danger to millions of healthy women. The hormones used in this birth control pill (estrogen and drospirenone) increase the risk of abnormal blood clots. These clots can travel with your bloodstream and lodge within major arteries. If a clot (i.e. thrombus) migrates into a carotid artery, it can cause a Yaz stroke. Please contact us for the latest updates and information on Yaz lawsuit settlements.

According to the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), over 700,000 people suffer the event each yearwithin the U.S. Nearly 1 in 5 die. Meanwhile, millions of stroke survivors cope with permanent disabilities that resulted from the event.

A stroke is a medical emergency. The condition requires immediate treatment in order to minimize brain damage. In cases where anticoagulants and thrombolytic medications have failed to improve the patient’s condition, carotid endarterectomy may be done. This is an invasive surgical procedure that poses its own set of risks.

How Carotid Endarterectomy Is Performed

The back of your neck is used as the entry site to the blocked carotid artery. This area is shaved and cleaned prior to the surgeon making the incision. A general anesthesia may be administered to put you to sleep. More commonly, the physician will administer a local anesthetic to numb the entry site and allow you to stay awake during the procedure. This provides the surgeon with an opportunity to observe how your brain reacts to the reduced supply of blood and oxygen.

An incision is made into the side of the neck where the clot is blocking the artery. The other blood vessels, tissues, and nerves are moved aside to expose the affected carotid artery. Before the artery can be incised, a clamp must be placed upon it in order to temporarily stop blood flow. Your surgeon may install a shunt to provide an alternative path for blood to flow during the procedure. Even without this shunt, your brain will receive blood from the unaffected carotid artery.

Once the clamp is in place, your physician will make an incision into the artery where the clot is located. This incision is called an arteriotomy. In many cases, plaque and fatty deposits have also formed along the arterial wall. The surgeon will remove them along with the offending thrombus. After the arterial blockage has been removed, the incision is closed.

After the clamp and shunt are removed, your surgeon will ensure there is no bleeding. The entry site is then closed and bandaged. Unless complications present, the entire procedure can be completed within two hours.

Potential Risks Of Carotid Endarterectomy

The most dangerous risk associated with carotid endarterectomy is that it might set off another stroke. There are often multiple thrombi within a carotid artery. When the surgeon incises the blocked artery and removes the obstructions, other thrombi can break away from the blood vessel’s lining. If this occurs, they might travel more deeply toward the brain and form another blockage. This can cause a subsequent stroke.

Another danger involves the nerves located near the entry site and the site of the arteriotomy. These nerves can be injured during the procedure. This often leads to temporary dysfunction or impairment that manifests through a difficulty swallowing or speaking. Fortunately, these problems tend to dissipate within three or four weeks.

Carotid endarterectomy may be recommended by your doctor if plaque is present in your carotid arteries and there is evidence of Yaz blood clots within other blood vessels. In such cases, even a small thrombus can migrate to the artery and restrict the flow of blood to your brain. By removing the plaque and fatty deposits, your physician can prevent the onset of a Yaz stroke.

If you have suffered gallbladder removal, blood clots, stroke, or other Yaz side effects after taking this oral contraceptive, find out about your legal rights. Contact a Yaz lawuit attorney to discuss your options including the latest information on Yaz lawsuit settlement amounts.