The FDA has identified this as a Class I recall, the most serious type of recall. Use of these devices may cause serious injuries or death.
Recalled Product
- Endo-Surgery Curved Intraluminal Stapler with Adjustable Height Staples and
- Endo-Surgery Endoscopic Curved Intraluminal Stapler with Adjustable Height Staples
- Product Codes: CDH21A, CDH25A, CDH29A, CDH33A, ECS21A, ECS25A, ECS29A,
- ECS33A (Product codes are located on the front of the single unit carton.)
- Manufacturing Dates: March 6, 2018 to March 6, 2019
- Distribution Dates: March 15, 2018 to March 8, 2019
- Devices Recalled in the U.S.: 92,496
- Date Initiated by Firm: April 11, 2019
- Device Use
Surgeons use Ethicon Endo-Surgery Intraluminal Staplers in the gastrointestinal tract for creating connections between structures (anastomoses) in surgical procedures
Image of the device and packaging, indicating product expiration date on left and product code on right.
Reason for Recall
Through investigation of complaints and returned products, Ethicon confirmed uncut washers in the stapler and malformed staples occur with their intraluminal circular staplers due to insufficient firing, which can compromise staple line integrity. When the washer is cut, confirming completion of the firing cycle, the surgeon experiences an audible and tactile crunch. Failure to cut the washer suggests complete 360-degree staple line failure.
In addition, an investigation of the manufacturing process detected a shift in a process, which occurred in March 2018 and continued through March 8, 2019, at which time the line was shut down.
The use of affected product may cause serious patient harm or death. Ethicon confirmed serious injuries to two patients. Misfiring of the stapler resulted in an additional resection — of the middle rectum in one patient and the lower rectum in another patient — during the planned resection of the upper rectum. Potential risks to patients include death, sepsis, bleeding, the need for permanent ostomy “bag,” life-long nutritional and digestive issues, leak in the closure (anastomotic leak), additional surgeries, need for additional closures (anastomoses), need for antibiotics, and the need for additional imaging studies.
Who May be Affected
- Surgeons who have performed gastrointestinal surgeries
- Patients who have had or may undergo gastrointestinal surgery, such as patients with colorectal cancer and bariatric patients
- What to Do
- The FDA’s recent letter to health care providers on surgical staplers and staples includes general recommendations for surgeons.
Surgeons who typically use these staplers have other options, including using:
Manual staplers from other manufacturers,
Powered staplers from Ethicon or other manufacturers,
Additionally, surgeons who typically use these staplers may consider performing an alternative approach to the surgery, such as:
- Open surgery with an alternative of handsewn closure (anastomosis)
- Delayed surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery