Category Archives: Recalled Medical Devices
EMA Seeks Stronger Pradaxa Guidance for Bleeding Side Effects
Regulators in Europe have again asked Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of the blood thinner Pradaxa, to update the drug’s label with additional information regarding Pradaxa bleeding side effects. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the new guidance should include more specific information on when Pradaxa must not be used, ...
Hip Replacement, Knee Implant Patients with Diabetes, Other Health Problems May Face Difficult Recoveries
Patients receiving hip replacement devices or knee implants may face a more complicated recovery if they are obese, or suffer from diabetes or other health woes. According to a new study published online in the journal Anesthesiology, at least 3% of all total hip or knee replacement patients will ...
U.K. Regulators Issue Additional Guidance for Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Recipients
Regulators in the U.K. are once again issuing advice to doctors and other healthcare professionals involved in the follow-up of patients with metal-on-metal hip replacement devices. In an alert issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), guidance is provided for four groups of metal-on-metal hip implant ...
New York Property Owners Challenge Binghamton Fracking Ban
According to a Reuters report, the landowners believe the Binghamton, N.Y., city council and Mayor acted against proper protocol when voting to ban fracking drilling the the city. Instead, they feel the city should have consulted with the Broome County Planning Commission before approving the ban.
Smokers More Vulnerable to Joint Replacement Failures
People who smoke cigarettes before and after receiving a total joint replacement, such as a hip replacement device or knee implant, are far more likely to endure revision surgeries on those implants than people who don’t smoke.
Smith & Nephew Recalls Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Component
Medical device maker, Smith & Nephew, just issued a recall for a metal-on-metal hip implant component, a part of one of its all-metal hip replacement systems.
Canadian Study Finds Actos Raises Bladder Cancer Risk by 22 Percent
Yet another study is confirming the association between the diabetes drug, Actos, and bladder cancer. This latest research, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that taking Actos raised the risk of bladder cancer among diabetics by about one-fifth.
Trial over Ethicon Transvaginal Mesh Begins in California
Pelvic mesh devices have become the subject of safety concerns in recent years amidst reports that they can cause serious, sometimes permanent injuries.
FDA Advisors Set to Examine Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Safety Concerns
Thousands of people with metal-on-metal hip implant devices could soon get some answers from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) about the dangers they face. Tomorrow, the agency will convene a panel of outside medical experts to examine the safety record of metal-on-metal hip replacements, and recommend the ...
Do Vitamin Drinks Pose Health Risks?
Scientists are concerned vitamin drinks are contributing to levels of vitamins and other nutrients that are not only unnecessary, but potentially harmful.Faulty St. Jude Riata Defibrillators may have Fatal Consequences
Patients who still have recalled St. Jude Defibrillators leads in their chests have many reasons to be vigilant. Premature insulation failure in the recalled device has been tentatively linked to polymicrobial endocarditis, a serious, often deadly condition that leads to … Continue reading
Cook Medical Recalls Medical Device due to Blood Clot Risk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified the Cook Medical Zenith Alpha Thoracic Endovascular Graft as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall where there is a “reasonable probability that the use of or exposure … Continue reading
St. Jude ICD Recall Is Deemed a Class I by Federal Regulators
St. Jude recently reported two patient deaths tied to early depletion of lithium batteries in St. Jude Medical Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Defibrillators (CRT-D). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and St. Jude issued an … Continue reading
Teleflex Medical Recalls Tracheostomy Tube Set Due to Possible Disconnection During Use
Teleflex Medical has issued a recall for the Willy Rusch Tracheostomy Tube Set because the connector may disconnect from the tracheostomy tube during use on a ventilated patient. If the connector detaches from the tracheostomy tube shaft during use, the … Continue reading
HeartWare International Heart Pump Subject to FDA Class 1 Recall
Medtronic has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified two global voluntary recalls of HeartWare International’s HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) as Class 1 recalls. A class 1 recall is the FDA’s most serious recall category, … Continue reading
Medtronic Recalls Thousands of Lots of Various Neurovascular Products
Medtronic PLC just recalled certain lots of four of its neurovascular products. The device maker noted that the recalled devices might lead to a thromboembolic event (blood clot) in patients. The recalled Medtronic neurovascular products are: Pipeline Embolization Device (1742 … Continue reading
Medtronic Recalls Temporary Cardiac Lead Pacing Systems
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a Class II designation for a recall involving thousands of Medtronic temporary lead pacing systems because there is the potential for them to connect to a hazardous voltage. The recall involves 11,697 of … Continue reading
Power Morcellators, Essure Birth Control System Prompt Introduction of Two Proposed Bills to Protect Consumers
House legislation has recently been introduced in an effort to prompt quicker action by federal regulators to remove dangerous medical devices from the market. Two bipartisan bills are expected to ease the process for patients who have suffered due to … Continue reading
Medtronic Recall for Respiratory Monitoring Battery Pack
A worldwide voluntary recall for the battery pack used in Medtronic’s Covidien Oridion labeled Capnostream 20 and Capnostream 20p Patient Monitor is being conducted due to a manufacturing defect that may increase the thermal damage in the battery pack. Battery … Continue reading
