Atrium Medical Corporation has announced it is recalling lots of its Hydraglide brand heparin-coated Thoracic Drainage catheters due to contamination of the blood thinner. The contamination only affects selected lots of Atrium’s catheters, and they have not received any reports of patients who have had adverse reactions. However, because they have found contaminated samples, they are proactively recalling all lots.
This stems from the high-profile heparin recall that has killed at least 81 people. Drug maker Baxter International who manufactures heparin has been at the center of an investigation first announced in February. Since the heparin recall it has been reported that the contaminant is hypersulfated chondroitin sulfate, and may have been fraudulently added somewhere between China, where the raw ingredient is manufactured, and a facility in this country. While the original recall was for single- and multi-dose injections used in cardiac surgery and kidney dialysis, the Atrium recall is new. While the heparin-coated catheters are not considered a high dose, as are the previously recalled syringes, the potential risks of what this contamination means to patients is still too great.
Atrium has requested that those with contaminated lots stop using them immediately.
If you or a loved one has been injured by tainted heparin, please contact an experienced injury lawyer in your area to find out if you have a claim.
