FDA Adverse Event Death Summary report: N

COBLATOR II SURGERY SYSTEM

MDR report key: 2223989 · Received August 18, 2011

Report

Report Number
2951580-2011-00111
Event Type
Death
Date Received
August 18, 2011
Date of Event
July 28, 2011
Report Date
August 1, 2011
Manufacturer
ARTHROCARE CORPORATION
Product Code
GEI
PMA / PMN Number
K030108
Adverse Event
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
NY, US
Reporter Occupation
PHYSICIAN

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 1

DEVICE 1 OF 2. REFERENCE MANUFACTURER'S REPORT #: 2951580-2011-00112. THE LOT AND SERIAL NUMBERS FOR THE DEVICE WERE NOT AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, NO MANUFACTURING OR EXPIRATION DATE COULD BE DETERMINED AND NO DEVICE HISTORY RECORDS COULD BE REVIEWED. ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING THE CAUSE OF THE PT'S DEATH WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THERE IS NO ALLEGATION FROM A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL THAT THE DEATH WAS DEVICE RELATED.

Description of Event or Problem · 1

IT WAS REPORTED THE PT UNDERWENT A TONSILLECTOMY AND A PARTIAL UVULECTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF SLEEP APNEA ON (B)(6) 2011. THE PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED USING A COBLATOR II SURGERY SYSTEM AND AN EVAC 70 XTRA PLASMA WAND. THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH NO REPORTED COMPLICATIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING OR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE. FOLLOW UP WITH THE PHYSICIAN APPROX ONE WEEK LATER FOUND THAT THE PT WAS RELEASED, AT HER REQUEST, ON (B)(6) 2011. THE PT HAD EXPIRED AT HER HOME APPROX 15 HOURS POST-OPERATIVE. THE PHYSICIAN REPORTED THE PT'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED BY HER FAMILY. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY POST-OPERATIVE BLEEDING AT THE PT'S HOME, SHE WAS ALLEGEDLY FOUND WITH A FOAM-LIKE SUBSTANCE COMING FROM HER MOUTH. THE PHYSICIAN INDICATED THAT ASIDE FROM A LARYNGEAL SPASM DURING EXTUBATION, THE PT DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY COMPLICATIONS PRIOR TO HER DISCHARGE. AN AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED ON (B)(6) 2011. ACCORDING TO THE PHYSICIAN, THE CORONER'S REPORT INDICATED THE FOSSAE AND LUNGS WERE CLEAR WITH NO SIGNS OF ABNORMALITIES. IN ADDITION, THE POST-MORTEM URINE TESTED POSITIVE FOR AN UNSPECIFIED SEDATIVE DRUG. THE PT'S FAMILY INDICATED THE PT HAD TAKEN SLEEPING PILLS THE NIGHT BEFORE THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE. IT IS UNK IF THE PT HAD DISCLOSED THIS INFO TO THE PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO THE PROCEDURE. THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS REQUESTED, HOWEVER, THE PHYSICIAN DECLINED TO RELEASE THAT INFO. THE PHYSICIAN DISCLOSED THAT HE DID NOT FEEL THE PT'S DEATH WAS DEVICE-RELATED. NO ADDITIONAL INFO IS AVAILABLE.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
1 COBLATOR II SURGERY SYSTEM ELECTROSURGICAL CUTTING & COAGULATION DE GEI ARTHROCARE CORPORATION

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1 24 YR Death