FDA Adverse Event Death Summary report: N

IMPELLA

MDR report key: 25174766 · Received May 14, 2026

Report

Report Number
1220648-2026-07846
Event Type
Death
Date Received
May 14, 2026
Date of Event
May 11, 2026
Report Date
May 19, 2026
Manufacturer
ABIOMED, INC. - 1220648
Product Code
OZD
UDI-DI
00813502012828
PMA / PMN Number
P140003
Removal / Correction Number
95129
Adverse Event
Yes
Product Problem
Yes
Report Source
Manufacturer report
Reporter Location
CA, US
Reporter Occupation
PHYSICIAN
Health Professional
Yes

Narratives

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 0

THIS REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF 21 CFR, PART 803. THIS REPORT MAY BE BASED ON INFORMATION WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR VERIFIED PRIOR TO THE REQUIRED REPORTING DATE. THIS REPORT DOES NOT REFLECT A CONCLUSION BY ABIOMED INC, OR ITS EMPLOYEES THAT THE REPORT CONSTITUTES AN ADMISSION THAT THE PRODUCT, ABIOMED INC, OR ITS EMPLOYEES CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE POTENTIAL EVENT DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. IF INFORMATION IS OBTAINED THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE INITIAL REPORT, A FOLLOW-UP REPORT WILL BE FILED AS APPROPRIATE.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 0

B1/B2 AND H1 UPDATED TO REFLECT PATIENT DEATH. B5 UPDATED WITH UPDATED CLINICAL NARRATIVE. D6B UPDATED. REMOVED F26 FROM H6; F02 AND F2303 ADDED TO H6. THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 0

COMPLAINT CODING WAS UPDATED TO BETTER REFLECT THE REPORTED EVENT. CONSEQUENTLY, SECTION H6 MEDICAL DEVICE PROBLEM CODE A140508 WAS REMOVED.

Additional Manufacturer Narrative · 0

CORRECTED DATA THIS REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED TO CORRECT H9. UPON FURTHER REVIEW, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPORT WAS INCORRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH A RECALL. THIS INFORMATION WAS ENTERED IN ERROR, AND WITH CURRENT INFORMATION THE EVENT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY RECALL. THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

Description of Event or Problem · 0

THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THEIR IMPELLA 5.5'S PURGE SYSTEM WAS WORKING AS NORMAL, READING FLOW OF 11 AND PRESSURE OF 550. THE NURSE FOLLOWED THE ¿DE AIR¿ PROTOCOL TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY EXTENSION TUBING. ABOUT 60 MINUTES LATER THE SYSTEM BEGAN ALARMING PURGE PRESSURE HIGH. THE PURGE LINE WAS ASSESSED FOR KINKS AND NONE WERE FOUND. DEXTEOSE CONCENTRATION WAS UNABLE TO BE REDUCED. THE COMPLAINANT CALLED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY, REPORTING THE SYSTEM WAS READING PURGE SYSTEM BLOCKED. THE COMPLAINANT WAS REFERRED TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE AND TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR PROTOCOL. NO PATIENT HARM HAS BEEN REPORTED.

Description of Event or Problem · 0

AN IMPELLA 5.5 DEVICE WAS INSERTED SURGICALLY INTO THE RIGHT AXILLARY/SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY IN A 66-YEAR-OLD MALE PATIENT PRESENTING IN ACUTE DECOMPENSATED CARDIOMYOPATHY, IN SCAI STAGE E SHOCK, AND ON MULTIPLE INOTROPES AND VASOPRESSORS, PRIOR TO INITIATION OF SUPPORT. WHILE THE PATIENT WAS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU), THE NURSE PERFORMED ROUTINE DE-AIR PROTOCOL TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY EXTENSION TUBING. ABOUT 60 MINUTES LATER, THE SYSTEM BEGAN ALARMING PURGE PRESSURE HIGH, WHICH PROGRESSED TO PURGE SYSTEM BLOCKED. NO KINKS WERE NOTED. CHANGING THE PURGE CASSETTE DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. TISSUE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR (TPA) PROTOCOL WAS INITIATED. AFTER 13 DAYS ON SUPPORT, THE PATIENT EXPIRED. WHILE ON SUPPORT, THE DEVICE FUNCTIONED AS INTENDED AT P-7 AT 3.7L/MIN WITH D5W SODIUM BICARBONATE IN THE PURGE SOLUTION. THE IMPELLA IS CONSERVATIVELY BEING REPORTED FOR DEATH; HOWEVER, IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PATIENT'S DEATH, WHICH WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE CLINICAL CONDITION OF A CRITICALLY ILL PATIENT, DEPENDENT ON VASOPRESSOR SUPPORT, WITH DECOMPENSATED CARDIOMYOPATHY, COMPLICATED BY STAGE E SHOCK.

Devices

Seq Brand Generic Product Code Manufacturer Model Lot UDI-DI
12205 IMPELLA TEMPORARY NON-ROLLER TYPE LEFT HEART SUPPORT BLOOD PUMP OZD ABIOMED, INC. - 1220648 2026803204 00813502012828

Patients

Seq Age Sex Outcome Treatment
1