In March, Philips recalled more than 73,000 ventilators that absorbed dust and dirt into breathing tubes. This week, the Food and Drug Administration reported that the issue has been associated with at least one death and two injuries.
The recall impacts Philips’ Trilogy Evo ventilators, which are used primarily in hospital settings to support breathing for pediatric and adult patients. They’re meant for people on life support, like the thousands of Covid patients who needed a machine to breathe for them. A buildup of dirt in the device’s air path could block oxygen, leading to serious injury or death.
According to the FDA’s medical device adverse event database, a patient died while using Philips’ ventilator in March 2022. The device’s alarm system had gone off, indicating the patient’s dropping blood oxygen levels. The patient was given CPR, but did not survive. Philips then evaluated the device, noting that the filter had not been installed, allowing significant amounts of dirt to seep in. A company spokesperson clarified to STAT that the death “cannot currently be linked” to the recall-related issue.
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