Boston Scientific Recalls Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheter

Boston Scientific Corp. has initiated a global, voluntary recall of all models of its Fetch 2 Aspiration Catheter, a thrombectomy catheter used during procedures to remove small blood clots from coronary arteries.

The Fetch 2 catheters were recalled on March 22, due to complaints of shaft breakage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the action as a Class 1 recall, which means that use of the device exposes the patient to a reasonable chance of a serious adverse health consequence or death.

There have been no reports of patient injury or death, and there is no risk to patients who previously underwent a thrombectomy procedure with the Fetch 2 catheter. All reports of shaft breakage happened during the procedure, and the broken section was either removed while still partially attached to the catheter shaft or retrieved with a snare, without further patient complications. While unreported, the most severe potential outcome of this breakage is embolism of device fragments, which could lead to obstruction of blood flow or additional intervention to remove a device fragment surgically. 

As part of the recall, all affected healthcare facilities were advised to discontinue use of all Fetch 2 catheters immediately and return unused product to the company. Since Boston Scientific acquired the Fetch 2 catheter product line from Bayer Medical Care Inc., all recalled inventory is packaged and labeled as Bayer product. This device was manufactured between June 11, 2014, and February 19, 2016. There are currently 21,155 devices on the market subject to this recall.

The Fetch 2 catheter UPNs are as follows: Fetch 2 US 109400-001; Fetch 2 OUS 109400-002; Fetch 2 Canada 109400-003; Fetch 2 Japan 109400-004; Fetch 2 EU 109400-005.

Physicians and healthcare facilities can direct questions to their Boston Scientific representative or, call (800) 811-3211. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

Boston Scientific is based in Marlborough, Mass.