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Complications of DVT can threaten the lives of patients who have developed a blood clot in the deep vein of their legs. Approximately one in 1,000 American adults will develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at some point in their lives. There are a myriad of factors which increase a person''s risk of developing a blood clot, including: prolonged rest, a major injury, surgery, cancer, pregnancy, and drugs containing the hormone estrogen.
The birth control patch, Ortho Evra, is an estrogen-containing contraceptive that was approved by the FDA in November 2001. The FDA considers it an acceptable risk that oral contraceptives, also containing estrogen, should have a low risk of DVT. This risk is considered acceptable largely because the countless benefits of birth control pills outweigh this risk for most patient populations. Recently, however, there have been reports that women using the birth control patch have three times the risk of developing blood clots and other complication of DVT.
There are two major complications of DVT that can cause long-term suffering or even death. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of these complications of DVT is that they are highly under-diagnosed. Another very common complication of DVT is a condition called post thrombotic syndrome, which causes long term pain and swelling in the affected leg.
The complications of DVT can cause a blood clot in the leg to break off from the vein wherein it formed, and travel through the blood stream to the lungs. This is a condition called pulmonary embolism, characterized by the blockage of an artery in the lungs. Approximately ten percent of all people who develop symptoms of pulmonary embolism will die within 30 to 60 minutes. Of those who are not killed by complications of DVT, two-thirds will not be properly diagnosed with their life threatening condition.
Complications of DVT can also lead to a condition called post thrombotic syndrome. This complication occurs in two-thirds of all patients who develop DVT. These complications of DVT are characterized by pain, swelling, hyper pigmentation, skin ulcers, cramps, numbness, and dilation of the veins. It can be caused by a long-term obstruction of the veins and reflux, or backflow, of blood. There are treatments and preventions available to guard against long-term damage from these complications of DVT.
In recent reports, complications of DVT- responsible for the deaths of some dozen women- have been linked to these victims'' use of the birth control patch. Several young and healthy women with no history of vascular problems, developed blood clots and complications of DVT shortly after commencing their use of the Ortho Evra birth control pill.
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or the complications of DVT while using the birth control patch, please contact us to speak with a qualified attorney near you.
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