FDA Adverse Event Malfunction Summary report: N

ECHELON*FLEX45

MDR report key: 2043392 · Received April 7, 2011

Report

Report Number
3005075853-2011-01397
Event Type
Malfunction
Date Received
April 7, 2011
Date of Event
March 10, 2011
Report Date
March 14, 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
CO, US
Reporter Occupation
OTHER

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

(B)(4). THE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT THE EC45A DEVICE WAS RECEIVED IN GOOD VISUAL CONDITION AND WITHOUT A RELOAD PRESENT. 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 CARTRIDGE WAS LOADED INTO THE DEVICE WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES AND DID NOT FELL OUT DURING THE VISUAL AND FUNCTIONAL TESTING. 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. 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 A PROCEDURE, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS A RELOAD IN THE JAWS OF THE DEVICE SLIPPED OUT DURING ARTICULATION OF THE DEVICE. THE REP WAS PRESENT AND THE RELOADS WERE INSERTED PROPERLY EACH TIME. THIS HAPPENED WITH TWO SEPARATE RELOADS. IT WAS NOT THE SAME RELOAD EACH TIME. THE DEVICE WAS WITHDRAWN AND THE RELOADS WERE PLACED BACK INTO THE JAWS. THERE WERE NO PATIENT CONSEQUENCES. UNKNOWN HOW CASE WAS COMPLETED.

Devices

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

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1