|
On or about (b)(6) 2012, plaintiff underwent placement of the angiodynamics smartport power injectable port, catalog number ct96stsd.The device was implanted by (b)(6), md, at (b)(6) hospital in (b)(6), for the purpose of ongoing chemotherapy.On or about (b)(6) 2012, plaintiff presented herself to (b)(6) hospital in (b)(6) where her port was subsequently removed due to breakage that caused blood clots.During the removal procedure, they were unable to remove the entire device.
|
|
The customer's reported complaint description of device breakage that caused blood clot could not be confirmed given the patient centric nature of this event.The specific portion of the device that broke off and where it is located was not provided.Potential failure mode is catheter tubing fracture/detachment due to pinch-off syndrome, which is cautioned in the device dfu.Thrombosis/clot formation is also cautioned in the dfu as a potential complication of port system use.No port/catheter tubing device was returned for evaluation.Without receiving product for evaluation, we are unable to definitively determine a root cause for this incident.A device history record review of the packaging/catheter lots revealed no quality related issues or manufacturing deficiencies at the time of manufacture.Labeling review: the directions for use (dfu) that is supplied with this port device contains the following statements: contraindications · catheter insertion in the subclavian vein medial to the border of the first rib, an area which is associated with higher rates for pinch-off.Warnings: · do not use syringes smaller than 10 ml when accessing the port as system damage can occur.Flushing occluded catheters with small syringes can create excessive pressures within the port system.· failure to ensure patency of the catheter prior to power injection studies may result in port system failure and patient injury may occur.· do not power inject through a port system that exhibits signs of clavicle-first rib compression or pinch-off as it may result in port system failure and patient injury may occur.· absence of a blood return or a poor blood return can be a sign of a potential complication such as occlusion, kinking, breakage, pinch-off syndrome, fibrin formation, thrombosis or malposition.This should be evaluated prior to device usage.A blood return should be present prior to usage of device for any therapy or testing.· if the patient complains of pain, or there is swelling when the device is flushed or when medication or contrast media is administered, evaluate the device for infiltration, proper needle placement, and potential complications such as occlusion, kinking, breakage, pinch-off syndrome, thrombosis or malposition.Failure to assess these complaints or observations can lead to device failure.Precautions: · for peripheral placement, irritation to the vein, resulting in postoperative thrombophlebitis, has been associated with guidewire and introducer insertion.· when using percutaneous introducers: to avoid blood vessel damage, do not allow the percutaneous introducer sheath to remain indwelling in the blood vessel without the internal support of a catheter or dilator.· if more than one drug is to be administered, between the individual drug applications, flush the system with 5 to 10 ml normal saline for injection to prevent drug interactions.· after any infusion, injection or bolus application, the system should be flushed with normal saline for injection or locked with a heparin solution per institutional protocol to prevent thrombotic occlusion of the catheter.Potential complications: use of an angiodynamics port system involves potential risks normally associated with the insertion or use of any implanted device or indwelling catheter including but not limited to: these complications are well documented in literature and should be considered when a venous access device is utilized.Air embolism.Catheter disconnection or migration.Catheter embolization.Catheter fragmentation.Catheter pinch-off.Clot formation.Drug extravasation (leakage).Fibrin sheath.Infection.Inflammation.Thromboembolism.Thrombophlebitis.Thrombosis.Catheter placement considerations: warning: avoid medial catheter placement into subclavian vein through percutaneous technique.This placement could lead to catheter occlusion, damage, rupture, shearing, or fragmentation due to compression of the catheter between the first rib and clavicle.Catheter shearing has been reported when the catheter is inserted via a more medial route in the subclavian vein.Pinch-off syndrome: pinch-off syndrome signs may include difficulty in aspirating blood, resistance to flushing or infusion of medications or fluids that improves with position changes, infraclavicular pain and/or swelling with catheter flushing or infusion palpitations, sudden onset chest pain, cardiac arrhythmias, extra heart sound, chest wall swelling at the port pocket, vein insertion site, pain in shoulder or port area not associated with swelling, cough, paresthesia of arm on side of catheter withdrawal occlusion or swishing sound with catheter flushing.A review of the angiodynamics complaint system noted no adverse trends for this complaint type and product family.This type of complaint continues to be monitored for trends.Reference (b)(4).
|