MitraClip Delivery System by Abbott: Safety Notice - Reinforcement of Proper Procedures to Operate and Deploy

AUDIENCE: Cardiology, Risk Manager, Surgery

ISSUE: Abbott initiated a voluntary safety notice regarding the MitraClip Delivery System to reinforce the proper procedures used to operate and deploy the device. The company received a small number of reports involving MitraClip Delivery Systems where the user was unable to separate the implantable Clip from the delivery system. Abbott has received nine Medical Device Reports of malfunction.

Abbott's investigation determined that the delivery system's "arm positioner" was not returned to the required neutral position by the operator during the deployment sequence, subsequently preventing the Clip from detaching. All of these cases (0.17% incidence) resulted in surgical interventions to remove the delivery system or replace the mitral valve, and it is expected that any future similar incidents would also require surgery to correct the problem. There was one patient death in these cases as a result of severe comorbidities following surgery.

Commercial Clip Delivery Systems with lot numbers 50714U1 and greater are affected by this action. Individuals who have already had the device implanted are not affected by this action.

BACKGROUND: The MitraClip Delivery System is a minimally invasive device used to treat people with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) a condition involving a dysfunction of the heart's mitral valve. Presently, there are 3,534 devices on the market (1,288 in the United States and 2,246 outside the United States).

RECOMMENDATION: Abbott is requiring training of all MitraClip implanting physicians on the safety notice to ensure continued safe use of the device and is incorporating the safety notice's deployment sequence in its Instructions for Use.

Customers with questions or concerns should contact their Abbott Vascular Representative or call the company at 1-800-227-9902.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report
Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Press Release, at:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm488214.htm