Customer reported that a patient underwent a free-flap surgical procedure.A cook-swartz doppler probe was used to monitor blood flow to the anastomotic site.The anastomotic site was damaged during planned removal of the device five (5) days following implant.A description of the damage and extent was not provided.The patient was returned to surgery for site exploration and a reanastomosis of the vessel.No further event or patient information was provided.The instructions for use (ifu) that accompany the device cautions the user to "avoid use of excessive force to remove the transducer assembly from the patient, which may cause injury to the blood vessel.If the transducer assembly cannot be removed using gentle traction, the transducer should be removed surgically." the ifu also lists potential adverse events which include ".Separation of the doppler crystal from the cuff, inability to percutaneously remove the crystal when monitoring is complete,.".
|
Investigation/evaluation: complaint was confirmed via customer testimony.Device was not returned so a physical investigation could not be performed.Instructions for use were reviewed and found to include precautions pertaining to blood vessel injury if excessive force is used.Potential perforation and/or laceration of vessels, as well as device dislodgement/migration, are also included in the ifu as potential adverse events.A review of the device history record could not be performed as no lot number for the complainant device was given.Review of the complaint history determined that no further action is required as no trends were identified.Investigation results concluded that the reported event was due to product use or handling in an operational or environmental context.A summary of the investigation has been sent to the complainant.
|