There has been a manufacturer’s recall issued due to a malfunction that may result in anesthetic toxicity in patients. The Symbios Medical Products LLC is the manufacturer, who has issued the recall for disposable pain pumps.
The disposable pain pumps that are involved in the recall are local anesthesia infusion pumps GoPump and GoBlock. They work using an elastomeric balloon type reservoir and the lot that is included in the recall may have an unpredictable high flow rate, which may deliver more anesthetic than is planned. The balloon is inflated with a local anesthetic medication that is delivered slowly through tubes from the balloon to the surgical site of the patient.
The patients most at risk are the elderly and patients with low body masses for the adverse effects that may occur with the high flow rate.
The product recall by the Symbios Medical Products LLC manufacturer includes the GoPumps in Rapid Recovery System Kits and the GoBlock Kits, which have flow control components. The kits would have a manufacture date prior to July 2012 and distributed between April 27, 2011 and April 30, 2013. The recall was initiated on June 6, 2013 and distributed by B. Braun Medical Inc.
http://www.outpatientsurgery.net/news/2013/06/11-Symbios-Pain-Pumps-Recalled