FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

ECHELON*FLEX45 ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPIC LINEAR CUTTER, 45 MM

MDR report key: 1973826 · Received January 31, 2011

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2011-00346
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
January 31, 2011
Date of Event
January 5, 2011
Report Date
January 6, 2011
Manufacturer
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC.
Product Code
GDW
PMA / PMN Number
K051002
Removal / Correction Number
NA
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
TW
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). INFORMATION ANTICIPATED, BUT UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). CARTRIDGE PAN. THE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE EC45A DEVICE WAS RECEIVED IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION AND WITH A ECR45G RELOAD PRESENT. THE RELOAD WAS RECEIVED FULLY FIRED AND WITH THE PAN DISLODGED. THE DEVICE WAS TESTED FOR FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ARTICULATED POSITION WITH A TEST CARTRIDGE RELOAD AND IT FIRED, CUT AND FORMED ALL THE STAPLES AS INTENDED. THE CUT WAS NOTED TO BE JAGGED DUE TO A DAMAGED KNIFE. ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE KNIFE IS WHEN THE DEVICE IS FIRED OVER AN ALREADY EXISTING STAPLE LINE, HARD OBJECT OR THICKER TISSUE THAN INDICATED. REPEATEDLY FIRING ACROSS EXISTING STAPLE LINES CAN ALSO REDUCE THE ABILITY TO CUT CLEANLY. TO MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL FOR STAPLES GETTING INTO THE CARTRIDGE AND INTERFERING WITH THE KNIFE PATH DURING DEVICE FIRING, PRIOR TO RELOADING THE DEVICE, RINSE THE ANVIL AND CARTRIDGE JAW IN STERILE SOLUTION AND THEN WIPE THE ANVIL AND CARTRIDGE JAW TO CLEAN ANY FORMED BUT UNUSED STAPLES FROM THE DEVICE. ADDITIONALLY, PROPER CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN PLACING THE DEVICE ON THE TISSUE TO BE STAPLED, TO ENSURE THAT NO HARD OBSTRUCTION SUCH AS A CLIP IS INCLUDED WITH THE TISSUE INSIDE THE JAWS. WHILE NO CONCLUSION COULD BE REACHED AS TO HOW THE PAN BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE CARTRIDGE, ONE POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE PAN MAY BE IMPROPER LOADING OF THE CARTRIDGE RELOAD ONTO THE DEVICE. AS PART OF OUR QUALITY PROCESS, EACH DEVICE IS VISUALLY INSPECTED AND FUNCTIONALLY TESTED DURING MANUFACTURING TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVICE MEETS THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. A BATCH RECORD REVIEW WAS PERFORMED AND NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING AN UNKNOWN PROCEDURE, AS THEY REMOVED THE CARTRIDGE FROM THE DEVICE, THE CARTRIDGES IRON COMPONENT "STOCKED" WITH THE DEVICE. THIS OCCURRED AFTER USE ON THE PATIENT. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PATIENT.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 ECHELON*FLEX45 ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPIC LINEAR CUTTER, 45 MM STAPLE, IMPLANTABLE GDW ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, LLC. UNK

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 ECR45G, (B)(4)