Medical Devices Safety Update, Volume 5, Number 1, January 2017

Medical Devices Safety Update is the medical device safety bulletin of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)

TGA encourages formal strategies for inferior vena cava filter removal

Health workers and facilities undertaking implantation of removable inferior vena cava filters should ensure they have formal strategies to address the issue of removal once the risk-benefit profile warrants it.

An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a small cone- or umbrella-shaped device that is implanted in the inferior vena cava just below the kidneys.

The filter is designed to capture an embolism, a blood clot that has broken loose from one of the deep veins in the legs on its way to the heart and lungs, while still allowing blood to flow past.

Implantation of IVC filters has become a common part of clinical practice despite the lack of good quality evidence supporting their use, especially in patients deemed to be at high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism.

Although it is recommended in various guidelines that vena cava filters are retrieved, in practice this does not occur routinely.

Some of the IVC filters listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) are designed to remain in-situ permanently; however the majority are classed as 'optional' (retrievable).

In the 10 years to November 2016 the TGA had received 21 adverse event reports relating to complications noted with IVC filters.

These complications were mostly related to migration and fracture of the wire-like 'limbs' in these devices. A migration or fracture can lead to complications such as vein perforation.

Most reports (16) have been classed as causing a serious injury to the patient, with the rest being marked as temporary.

There were no reports of deaths in Australia, although there have been reports of deaths overseas.

Known complications

Migration, perforation and fracture are known complications with use of these devices and are routinely mentioned in the Instructions for Use (IFU).

There have been seven recalls for these products - most relating to manufacturing issues, but some have been for movement of the filter.

Both the US Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada have published statements relating to these issues in recent years:

• FDA statement
• Health Canada statement.

Be alert to the IFU

The TGA encourages clinicians to ensure they are alert to the IFU when using IVC devices. We encourage each health facility to identify all patients who have a retrievable IVC filter placed and to develop a formal strategy to assess these patients for filter removal to reduce the known risks.

ECRI lists infusion errors as top 2017 hazard

Infusion errors have been named as the top health technology hazard worldwide, followed by inadequate cleaning of complex reusable instruments.

Infusion errors pose the number one health technology hazard worldwide for 2017, according to ECRI Institute (formerly known as the Emergency Care Research Institute).^[1]

ECRI Institute publishes a list each year detailing what it believes to be the top 10 health technology hazards for the coming year.

Clinical alarm hazards had topped the ECRI Institute list in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and were listed second in 2016. ECRI Institute has listed 'missed ventilator alarms' as the third most pressing hazard in 2017.

The full list

The ECRI Institute's top 10 hazards list for 2017 is:

1. Infusion errors can be deadly if simple safety steps are overlooked (an MDSU article discussed this issue in July 2014)
2. Inadequate cleaning of complex reusable instruments can lead to infections (MDSU articles discussed this issue and related issues in September 2014, November 2015 and May 2016)
3. Missed ventilator alarms can lead to patient harm (an MDSU article discussed this issue in May 2014)
4. Undetected opioid-induced respiratory depression (an MDSU article discussed this issue in November 2016)
5. Infection risks with heater-cooler devices used in cardiothoracic surgery (an MDSU article discussed this issue in May 2016)
6. Software management gaps put patients, and patient data, at risk (an MDSU article discussed software-related issues in September 2016)
7. Occupational radiation hazards in hybrid operating rooms
8. Automated dispensing cabinet setup and use errors may cause medication mishaps
9. Surgical stapler misuse and malfunctions
10. Device failures caused by cleaning products and practices.

ECRI Institute said the list did not enumerate the most frequently reported problems or the ones associated with the most severe consequences, although such information fed into the analysis. Rather, the list reflected its experts' judgment about which risks should receive priority now.

The list focused on 'generic hazards', problems that result from the risks inherent to the use of certain types or combinations of medical technologies.

To create the list, ECRI Institute engineers, scientists, clinicians, and other patient safety analysts nominated topics for consideration based on their own expertise and insight gained through:

• investigating incidents
• testing medical devices
• observing operations and assessing hospital practices
• reviewing literature
• speaking with clinicians, clinical engineers, technology managers, purchasing staff, health systems administrators and device suppliers
• analysing thousands of health-technology-related problem reports.

All the items on the list represented problems that could be avoided or risks that could be minimised through the careful management of technologies.

Focus on solutions

The TGA advises health professionals to consider ways to mitigate risks within the clinical settings in which they work. A good place to start would be to consider the MDSU articles listed above and other safety communications published by the TGA.

Health facilities should:

• set up effective risk management programs that involve clinicians, biomedical engineers, hospital management and administrative staff
• ensure that responsibilities are clearly assigned to the relevant personnel
• ensure all staff carefully read and fully understand the Instructions for Use for devices they use and are responsible for.

Reference

1. Top 10 Health technology Hazards for 2017. Health Devices, November 2016. Emergency Care Research Institute (registration required)

Recent safety alerts

Below are TGA safety alerts relating to medical devices published since the last edition of Medical Devices Safety Update.

balanSys UNI convex PE inlays x/5 - used in knee replacements: Hazard alert - higher than expected rate of PE inlay breakage

Microport Orthopedics metal-on-metal hip implant components: Hazard alert - revision rate increasing

Medtronic SynchroMed II implantable infusion pump: Update - additional information

Nanostim leadless cardiac pacemaker: Hazard alert - potential for loss of telemetry and pacing due to battery malfunction

ASR XL total hip replacements: Alert - TGA advice regarding potential association with heart failure

Advance HA coated tibial bases: Hazard alert - potential for implant failure due to loosening

Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing System: Hazard alert - risks of leaks, stent movement and aneurysm enlargement

Medtronic model 37751 recharger - used with neurostimulators: Recall for product correction - risk of loss of therapy due to the recharger not functioning

Orchestra and Orchestra Plus programming devices when used with Reply and Esprit pacemakers: Update - new software update and inclusion of Kora pacemakers

Infections associated with heater-cooler devices: Alert - updated advice for health professionals and facilities

Active Total Knee Replacement System: Hazard alert - higher than expected revision rate when used without patella resurfacing

Disclaimer

For the latest information from the TGA, subscribe to the TGA Safety Information email list.

For correspondence or further information about Medical Devices Safety Update, contact the TGA's Medical Devices Branch at iris@tga.gov.au or 1800 809 361.

Medical Devices Safety Update is written by staff from the Medical Devices Branch.

Editor: Ms Pamela Carter

Deputy Editor: Mr Aaron Hall

TGA Principal Medical Adviser: Associate Professor Tim Greenaway

Contributors include: Mrs Sharon Bennett