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Patient 1
THE BIOTRONIK REOCOR IS A BATTERY POWERED, EXTERNAL DUAL CHAMBER PACEMAKER, WHICH CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEMPORARY PACEMAKER LEADS (INCLUDING ENDOCARDIAL LEADS AND TRANSVENOUS IMPLANTABLE CATHETERS) FOR TEMPORARY ATRIAL, VENTRICULAR AND AV SEQUENTIAL PACING IN CLINICAL SETTINGS. THE CONNECTION IS MADE DIRECTLY OR VIA A SEPARATE PATIENT CABLE AND ADAPTER, IF NECESSARY. BASED ON THE INFORMATION BIOTRONIK RECEIVED FROM (B)(6) ON 5TH MAY 2017, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON (B)(6) 2016. DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RECEIVE THE DEVICE FOR ANALYSIS, NEITHER THE STIMULATION CABLES NOR THE REOCOR PACEMAKER WERE RETURNED FOR ANALYSIS. THEREFORE, THE BIOTRONIK INVESTIGATION IS BASED ON THE INFORMATION FROM THE MEDICAL PHYSICS INVESTIGATION REPORT PROVIDED BY THE HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED DURING A BIOTRONIK REPRESENTATIVE VISIT AT THE HOSPITAL ON 11TH MAY 2017. THE HOSPITAL MEDICAL PHYSICS INVESTIGATION REPORT STATED THAT THE DISCONNECTION OF ONE STIMULATION CABLE FROM THE REOCOR RESULTED IN THE INCIDENT. THE MEDICAL PHYSICS INVESTIGATION REPORT FURTHER DESCRIBED THAT THE STANDARD PROCEDURE AS FOLLOWED BY THE HOSPITAL STAFF WAS TO HANG UP THE REOCOR ON THE STIMULATION CABLES INSTEAD OF USING THE HANGER ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE DEVICE, OR ANY OTHER FIXATION TO RELIEF THE PULLING FORCES ON THE STIMULATION CABLES. ADDITIONALLY, NO CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF THE PATIENT WAS PERFORMED USING AN EXTERNAL ECG, WHILE THE PATIENT WAS DEPENDENT ON THE ANTI BRADYCARDIA PACING DELIVERED BY THE REOCOR. THESE OPERATING PROCEDURES WERE CONFIRMED DURING THE VISIT OF THE BIOTRONIK REPRESENTATIVE. THIS IS HOWEVER AGAINST THE INSTRUCTION FOR USE, WHICH EXPLICITLY SPECIFY TO OPERATE THE REOCOR PACEMAKER ONLY EITHER HORIZONTALLY ON A NON SLIP SURFACE OR AFFIXED TO THE PATIENT ARMBAND OR FROM A HANGING POSITION ON THE INFUSION STAND USING THE HANGER ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE DEVICE. THIS ENSURES SAFE OPERATION AS NO PULLING FORCES ARE EXERTED ON THE STIMULATION CABLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE MANDATE THAT DURING USE OF A REOCOR PACEMAKER, THE HEART RATE OF THE PATIENT IS TO BE MONITORED WITH AN EXTERNAL ECG MONITOR WITH ALARM FUNCTION. IN CONCLUSION, THE HOSPITAL MEDICAL PHYSICS INVESTIGATION REPORT SUGGESTS PULLING FORCES HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE MANDATE ONLY A FORCE FREE CONNECTION OF THE STIMULATION CABLES.