Yaz Lawsuit Settlement Amounts News

by admin on August 16th, 2010

Women using Ocella, Yaz and Yasmin birth control may be at risk of developing a variety of biliary problems, including gallstones and gallbladder disease. In addition to estrogen, this oral contraceptive contains drospirenone, a synthetic progestin hormone. Together, these hormones are believed to reduce the gall bladder’s activity, and cause the liver to produce excess cholesterol. Both circumstances contribute to the formation of gallstones. If you have suffered from blood clots or gallbladder problems please contact us for the latest Yaz lawsuit settlement amounts news and update.

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.