Thoratec Corp Thoratec Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD) component of the Thoratec VAD system. Catalog number 14086-2550-000. Recall

Check Your Product

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Reason for Recall

As stated by FDA

Incorrect collect nut assembly (inadvertent use of the incorrect (Black) collect nut) during surgical implantation (wrong size collect nut) to secure the inflow cannula to the PVAD has resulted in patient deaths

Recommended Action

Per FDA guidance

The firm has issued an Urgent Medical Device Correction notice dated March 30, 2007, to all VAD customers alerting them to the hazard. The letter instructs them that a Thoratec representative will be contacting them to make arrangements to apply a warning label to the affected devices. The letter also informs them to dispose of any expired original design caged tip atrial cannula and to 1) not use the black collet and nut with any current design VAD, 2) make sure that all current patients using PVADs are using the appropriate collet nut, and 3) provide a copy of the product safety bulletin to all outlying hospitals and/or physicians that may be following patients implanted with PVADs and provide contact information with the acknowledgement form.