Medtronic Recalls Heart Failure Device

Medtronic has recalled more than 204,000 devices used to assist hospital and other patients with end-stage heart failure due to the potential for power source interruptions, the Food and Drug Administration reported Friday. The HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device is used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation in patients who are at risk of death from end-stage left ventricular heart failure. Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions and quality problems with the devices to the FDA’s MedWatch program. For more information, see the recent Medtronic letter to health care providers.