Levitronix CentriMag Extracorporeal Blood Pumping System: CentriMag Primary Console (with v200 Application Software)
Audience: Cardiothoracic healthcare professionals, perfusionists, hospital risk managers, biomedical engineers
Levitronix and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class 1 recall of the Levitronix CentriMag Extracorporeal Blood Pumping System and Primary & Backup Consoles manufactured by Levitronix, GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland and distributed from January, 2001 through March, 2008. The Blood Pumping System is used to provide short-term extracorporeal circulatory support during cardiac and other types of surgeries. This device temporarily replaces the function of the heart and lungs in order to maintain the appropriate circulation of blood and oxygen levels in the body during the surgical procedure. A July 24, 2008 Levitronix device correction letter informed physicians not to use Valleylab Force FX-C or SSE2L electrosurgery devices with the CentriMag Blood Pumping System because use may result in stoppage of the pump and may cause serious injury or death. This recall action is an interim fix while the firm further investigates the source of the problem.
Read the complete MedWatch 2008 Safety summary, including links to the FDA recall notice and the Levitronix Dear Doctor letter, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#CentriMag
Reviewed by Ramaz Mitaishvili, MD
