Recalled Digitek Digoxin Tablets Could Affect Many with Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

Margaret Embry — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:59:23 GMT

Digoxin is a drug used to treat congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation by making the heart beat stronger and with a more regular rhythm. To understand the importance this drug plays in those who suffer from the above mentioned conditions, a general understanding of these conditions is needed.

According to US Recall News from April 2008,

A class I recall is being issued on all Digitek (digoxin) tablets, which may contain twice the approved level of digoxin.The existence of double-strength pills pose a risk of digitalis toxicity, which can result in nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and even death.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), according to the American Heart Association, is a condition in which the heart is not able to pump enough blood to the body's other organs. The heart is working, but not as efficiently as the body needs. Because of this, a person with CHF cannot exert themselves because they become short of breath and tired.

As blood flow out of the heart slows, blood returning to the heart through the veins backs up, causing congestion in the tissues. Often swelling (edema) results. Most often there's swelling in the legs and ankles, but it can happen in other parts of the body, too. Sometimes fluid collects in the lungs and interferes with breathing, causing shortness of breath, especially when a person is lying down.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a disorder in which the heart's two small upper chambers (the atria) quiver instead of beating effectively. Blood isn't pumped completely out of the atria, so there is a chance for it to pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot in the atria leaves the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke results. About 15 percent of strokes occur in people with atrial fibrillation and about 2.2 million Americans suffer from AF.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Margaret Embry

Defective Valve Stems - What You Should Know

Gibson Vance — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:42:32 GMT

Tech International, one U.S. distributor of Chinese-made valve stems, issued a massive recall of approximately 6 million “Replacement Snap-In Tire Valve Stems.” The stem has been tentatively linked to at least one fatal rollover crash of an SUV in Orlando, Florida.

The valve stems were made for Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, N.C., by Shanghai Baolong Industries Co. in China. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration has opened an investigation of Dill Air Controls Products, which manufactured approximately 30 million of the Dill TR400 Series tire valves in 2006. Per the NHTS report, the “tire valves can crack and leak air. A leaking tire valve could result in tire deflation, tire damage (e.g. overheating, rupture) and possible vehicle control problems.”

Consumers should check their tires to make sure they do not contain the rubber replacement tire valve stems. This is especially important if you have had a tire replaced since July 2006.

Unfortunately, that is easier said then done because once a valve stem has been installed the only way to check to see if it is in fact one of the defective models is to completely dismount the tire from the wheel and check it from the inside. Also, most service centers do not keep records of any valve stems they may have installed on a vehicle. Once they are out of the box and on a vehicle there is no tracking, so customers can’t be notified.

Eugene Petersen, program leader for tire testing at Consumer Reports, says, “At a minimum, motorists should conduct a visual inspection of their valve stems. To do this, remove the hubcap and move the top of the stem around, checking for any signs of cracks in the base of the stem where it meets the wheel. Ideally, the consumer should have the tire removed from the wheel and checked by a professional to make sure the valve is not one of the defective models.”

Below is a list of the model numbers your mechanic should look for:

TR-413

TR-413 CH

TR-414

TR-415

TR-418

TR-423

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Gibson Vance

Montgomery Personal Injury Lawyer - recall

Recalled Digitek Digoxin Tablets Could Affect Many with Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

Defective Valve Stems - What You Should Know