The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type.
This recall involves:

  • removing the Pipeline Vantage 027 device models from where they are used or sold 
  • updating instructions for using the Pipeline Vantage 021 device models 

Affected Product 

  • Product Names:
    • Removal of unused: Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device with Shield Technology, 027 Compatible (Pipeline Vantage 027 devices)
    • Instructions for Use (IFU) update: Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device with Shield Technology, 021 Compatible (Pipeline Vantage 021 Devices)
  • Catalog and Serial Numbers: 
    • Removal of unused:  REF: PED3-027-350-12, PED3-027-350-14, PED3-027-350-16, PED3-027-350-20, PED3-027-350-25, PED3-027-400-12, PED3-027-400-14, PED3-027-400-16, PED3-027-400-18, PED3-027-400-20, PED3-027-400-25, PED3-027-400-30, PED3-027-450-12, PED3-027-450-14, PED3-027-450-16, PED3-027-450-18, PED3-027-450-20, PED3-027-450-25, PED3-027-450-30, PED3-027-450-40, PED3-027-500-14, PED3-027-500-16, PED3-027-500-18, PED3-027-500-20, PED3-027-500-25, PED3-027-500-30, PED3-027-500-40, PED3-027-550-16, PED3-027-550-18, PED3-027-550-20, PED3-027-550-30, PED3-027-550-40, PED3-027-550-50, PED3-027-600-16, PED3-027-600-18, PED3-027-600-20, PED3-027-600-30, PED3-027-600-40, PED3-027-600-50 and all Pipeline Vantage 027 product lots from B317266 through B817292
    • Instructions For Use (IFU) update: REF: PED3-021-350-16, PED3-021-250-14, PED3-021-350-20, PED3-021-250-20, PED3-021-300-16, PED3-021-300-20, PED3-021-275-12, PED3-021-275-16, PED3-021-325-12, PED3-021-325-14, PED3-021-325-16, PED3-021-325-20, PED3-021-250-12, PED3-021-300-14, PED3-021-250-16, PED3-021-300-12, PED3-021-275-14, PED3-021-350-14, PED3-021-350-25, PED3-021-350-12, PED3-021-250-10, PED3-021-275-20, PED3-021-350-18, PED3-021-325-18, PED3-021-275-18, PED3-021-250-18, PED3-021-300-18; and Instructions for Use, Part: M056989CDOC2. All Pipeline Vantage 021 product lots from B317266 through B817292

Unique Device Identifier (UDI)/Catalog Number:

UDI Device Model
00847536030398 PED3-021-250-10
00847536036215 PED3-021-250-10
00847536034884 PED3-021-250-10
00847536030404 PED3-021-250-12
00847536034891 PED3-021-250-12
00847536036222 PED3-021-250-12
00847536030411 PED3-021-250-14
00847536034907 PED3-021-250-14
00847536036239 PED3-021-250-14
00847536030428 PED3-021-250-16
00847536034914 PED3-021-250-16
00847536036246 PED3-021-250-16
00847536036253 PED3-021-250-18
00847536030442 PED3-021-250-20
00847536034938 PED3-021-250-20
00847536036260 PED3-021-250-20
00847536030466 PED3-021-275-12
00847536034952 PED3-021-275-12
00847536036284 PED3-021-275-12
00847536030473 PED3-021-275-14
00847536034969 PED3-021-275-14
00847536036291 PED3-021-275-14
00847536030480 PED3-021-275-16
00847536034976 PED3-021-275-16
00847536036307 PED3-021-275-16
00847536036314 PED3-021-275-18
00847536030503 PED3-021-275-20
00847536034990 PED3-021-275-20
00847536036321 PED3-021-275-20
00847536030527 PED3-021-300-12
00847536035010 PED3-021-300-12
00847536036345 PED3-021-300-12
00847536030534 PED3-021-300-14
00847536035027 PED3-021-300-14
00847536036352 PED3-021-300-14
00847536030541 PED3-021-300-16
00847536035034 PED3-021-300-16
00847536036369 PED3-021-300-16
00847536036376 PED3-021-300-18
00847536030565 PED3-021-300-20
00847536035058 PED3-021-300-20
00847536036383 PED3-021-300-20
00847536030602 PED3-021-325-12
00847536035096 PED3-021-325-12
00847536036420 PED3-021-325-12
00847536030619 PED3-021-325-14
00847536035102 PED3-021-325-14
00847536036437 PED3-021-325-14
00847536030626 PED3-021-325-16
00847536035119 PED3-021-325-16
00847536036444 PED3-021-325-16
00847536036451 PED3-021-325-18
00847536030640 PED3-021-325-20
00847536035133 PED3-021-325-20
00847536036468 PED3-021-325-20
00847536030688 PED3-021-350-12
00847536035171 PED3-021-350-12
00847536036505 PED3-021-350-12
00847536030695 PED3-021-350-14
00847536035188 PED3-021-350-14
00847536036512 PED3-021-350-14
00847536030701 PED3-021-350-16
00847536035195 PED3-021-350-16
00847536036529 PED3-021-350-16
00847536036536 PED3-021-350-18
00847536030725 PED3-021-350-20
00847536035218 PED3-021-350-20
00847536036543 PED3-021-350-20
00847536030732 PED3-021-350-25
00847536035225 PED3-021-350-25
00847536036550 PED3-021-350-25
00847536035263 PED3-027-350-12
00847536030770 PED3-027-350-12
00847536035287 PED3-027-350-14
00847536030787 PED3-027-350-14
00847536035294 PED3-027-350-16
00847536030794 PED3-027-350-16
00847536035317 PED3-027-350-20
00847536030817 PED3-027-350-20
00847536035324 PED3-027-350-25
00847536030824 PED3-027-350-25
00847536030862 PED3-027-400-12
00847536035362 PED3-027-400-12
00847536036680 PED3-027-400-12
00847536030879 PED3-027-400-14
00847536035379 PED3-027-400-14
00847536036697 PED3-027-400-14
00847536030886 PED3-027-400-16
00847536035386 PED3-027-400-16
00847536036703 PED3-027-400-16
00847536036710 PED3-027-400-18
00847536030909 PED3-027-400-20
00847536035409 PED3-027-400-20
00847536036727 PED3-027-400-20
00847536030916 PED3-027-400-25
00847536035416 PED3-027-400-25
00847536036734 PED3-027-400-25
00847536030923 PED3-027-400-30
00847536035423 PED3-027-400-30
00847536036741 PED3-027-400-30
00847536030961 PED3-027-450-12
00847536035461 PED3-027-450-12
00847536036789 PED3-027-450-12
00847536030978 PED3-027-450-14
00847536035478 PED3-027-450-14
00847536036796 PED3-027-450-14
00847536030985 PED3-027-450-16
00847536035485 PED3-027-450-16
00847536036802 PED3-027-450-16
00847536036819 PED3-027-450-18
00847536031005 PED3-027-450-20
00847536035508 PED3-027-450-20
00847536036826 PED3-027-450-20
00847536031012 PED3-027-450-25
00847536035515 PED3-027-450-25
00847536036833 PED3-027-450-25
00847536031029 PED3-027-450-30
00847536035522 PED3-027-450-30
00847536036840 PED3-027-450-30
00847536031043 PED3-027-450-40
00847536035546 PED3-027-450-40
00847536036864 PED3-027-450-40
00847536031067 PED3-027-500-14
00847536035577 PED3-027-500-14
00847536036895 PED3-027-500-14
00847536031074 PED3-027-500-16
00847536035584 PED3-027-500-16
00847536036901 PED3-027-500-16
00847536036918 PED3-027-500-18
00847536031098 PED3-027-500-20
00847536035607 PED3-027-500-20
00847536036925 PED3-027-500-20
00847536031104 PED3-027-500-25
00847536035614 PED3-027-500-25
00847536036932 PED3-027-500-25
00847536031111 PED3-027-500-30
00847536035621 PED3-027-500-30
00847536036949 PED3-027-500-30
00847536031135 PED3-027-500-40
00847536035645 PED3-027-500-40
00847536036963 PED3-027-500-40
00847536031166 PED3-027-550-16
00847536035683 PED3-027-550-16
00847536037007 PED3-027-550-16
00847536037014 PED3-027-550-18
00847536035706 PED3-027-550-20
00847536031180 PED3-027-550-20
00847536037021 PED3-027-550-20
00847536031203 PED3-027-550-30
00847536035720 PED3-027-550-30
00847536037045 PED3-027-550-30
00847536031227 PED3-027-550-40
00847536035744 PED3-027-550-40
00847536037069 PED3-027-550-40
00847536031241 PED3-027-550-50
00847536035768 PED3-027-550-50
00847536037083 PED3-027-550-50
00847536031289 PED3-027-600-16
00847536035805 PED3-027-600-16
00847536037120 PED3-027-600-16
00847536037137 PED3-027-600-18
00847536031302 PED3-027-600-20
00847536035829 PED3-027-600-20
00847536037144 PED3-027-600-20
00847536031326 PED3-027-600-30
00847536035843 PED3-027-600-30
00847536037168 PED3-027-600-30
00847536031340 PED3-027-600-40
00847536035867 PED3-027-600-40
00847536037182 PED3-027-600-40
00847536031364 PED3-027-600-50
00847536035881 PED3-027-600-50
00847536037205 PED3-027-600-50

What to Do

  • Do not use and return all unused Pipeline Vantage 027 devices.
  • Read updated instructions before using Pipeline Vantage 021 devices.   

On January 30, 2025, Medtronic Neurovascular sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Recall letter recommending the following actions:

For affected Pipeline Vantage 027 devices

  • Do not use any affected Pipeline Vantage 027. 
  • Remove and quarantine all unused affected products. 
  • Return affected products to Medtronic with help from your Medtronic representative, who can also help identify suitable replacement products if needed.

For affected Pipeline Vantage 021

Download and review labeling updates M067713CDOC2 Rev. A (01/2025) (or M056989CDOC2 Rev. A) for the Pipeline Vantage 021 device. The updated Instructions for Use (IFU) was provided by Medtronic with the letter to healthcare providers and is also available on the Medtronic manuals website at: https://manuals.medtronic.com/manuals/. These instructions should be used when completing any future procedures with Pipeline Vantage 021. 

The updates aim to help achieve optimal device size selection and stent braid deployment to reduce the risk of complications and patient harms by lowering the incidence of incomplete wall apposition and/or braid deformation. Revisions to the instructions include:

  • Considerations to appropriately select device diameter and length accounting for complex anatomy.
  • Techniques to deploy Pipeline Vantage compared to Pipeline Shield using a balance of device tension and compression, aiming to achieve adequate wall apposition and in complex vessel anatomies (e.g., tortuous vessels).
  • Warnings about the consequences of incomplete wall apposition and suboptimal deployment as well as the increased risk of braid deformation in females, especially in females younger than 45 years of age.

For all affected devices

Complete the Customer Confirmation Form included with the letter and email it to neuro.quality@medtronic.com.

For patients who have already been treated with Pipeline Vantage 027 and 021 devices

The treating physician should determine the need for follow-up imaging or changes to medical management based on the patient’s overall health. This includes weighing the risks of dual antiplatelet therapy against potential risks for braid deformation. 

Reason for Recall and Updates to Use Instructions   

Medtronic Neurovascular is recalling 027 Compatible Pipeline Vantage Embolization Devices and updating use instructions for 021 Compatible Pipeline Vantage Embolization Devices due to reports of a higher incidence of the flexible, braided tube part of the device failing to properly attach or stay attached to the blood vessel wall (incomplete wall apposition and/or braid deformation) during and after procedures using these devices. Incomplete wall apposition and braid deformation, also sometimes called fish-mouthing, braid narrowing, or braid collapse, are known risks of these devices. The risks were higher in females, especially those younger than 45 years of age.  

The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including thrombosis, stroke, or death.

There have been thirteen reported injuries and four reports of death related to the 027 Compatible Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device. There have been four reported injuries and no reports of death related to the 021 Compatible Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device. 

Device Use 

Pipeline Vantage Embolization Devices with Shield Technology are used to treat bulges in the artery walls (aneurysms) of the brain. These devices are inserted into the blood vessels (endovascular) through a small catheter and delivered to the aneurysm location, where a small, braided tube is placed to block off blood flow to the bulging area. 

Contact Information  

Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact their local Medtronic representative or Medtronic Quality Assurance at rs.nvquality@medtronic.com or 1-800-633-8766.

Additional FDA Resources 

  • FDA’s Enforcement Report
  • Medical Device Recall Database

Unique Device Identifier (UDI) 

The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly.

How do I report a problem? 

Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.

  • Content current as of:

    03/18/2025

Source