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Philips CPAP Overview
- Who: Philips recalled millions of CPAP and other breathing devices, worsening a supply shortage.
- Why: The continuing COVID-19 pandemic and Philips CPAP recall have left supplies stretched thin, say experts.
- Where: The Philips CPAP recall and pandemic affect US consumers, as well as the world.
A Class 1 recall of Philips CPAP machines has worsened a serious shortage of breathing devices that has been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, reportedly leaving patients and physicians at a loss.
In June, Philips first announced the recall of its CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilator devices, which the Food and Drug Administration found may cause serious injury or death due to potential risks of chemical exposure posed by noise-reducing foam in the devices made from polyester-based polyurethane.
According to the agency, risks from the chemical exposure include irritation, inflammation, respiratory issues, and possible toxic and carcinogenic effects. Between three and four million of the Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure (Bi-Level PAP), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and mechanical ventilator devices were recalled.
Philips CPAP Recall Escalates Shortage
Due to the recall, there is now an even steeper shortage in ventilators and other respiratory care machines that was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving providers concerned as the pandemic continues to surge across the country, Advisory Board reports.
David Schulman, a pulmonary and critical care medicine specialist at Emory Healthcare, told The New York Times that the number of people coming into the hospital with severe respiratory symptoms had increased as a result of COVID-19, and “the demand for these devices has also increased, which is problematic since available supply has decreased as a result of the Philips recall.”
In April 2020, more than half of medical equipment suppliers were already reporting delays for CPAP machines, with the majority saying those delays were more than 60 days, a survey by American Association for Homecare showed.
CEO Thomas Ryan said: “Given the shortages of materials to make these devices, such as resins and computer chip modules, and transportation bottlenecks, I expect that supply will continue to lag behind demand into 2022. It is becoming a crisis.”
The American Hospital Association has restarted a program that delivers ventilators and other supplies to areas that have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 Delta variant, spokesperson Thomas Jordan said.
The FDA has required Philips to submit a repair-and-replacement program for the faulty components in the devices, but those replacement parts may face delays due to supply shortages and backlogged orders of similar devices being used in ERs and ICUs.
A company spokesperson said it was “already producing repair kits and replacement devices in large quantities.” Philips has recommended that customers with affected devices register their products and consult their doctors about what to do next.
But even doctors don’t have the answers. Schulman, of Emory Healthcare, told The New York Times that both physicians and their patients were”extremely uncertain,” with a lack of clear information.
“How do we advise our patients when we know that the potential risks are serious, but haven’t any idea whether they are extremely rare or just uncommon?”
Sleep medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic Timothy Morgenthaler said it would be helpful for physicians to know how much time was needed for replacements and how to quantify the health risks for patients.
“The risk of good or bad decisions is passed to the patient and provider,” he said.
Has the Philips CPAP recall affected you in any way? Tell us your experience in the comments section!
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28 thoughts onPhilips CPAP Recall Has Left Supply Shortage, Confusion for Physicians and Patients
I’m I to continue to use this machine?
I had my ventrilogy machine, which Phillips said was on their recall list since 2019. It was just replaced on August 6, 2023. Only because my lung doctor called the distributor to come and take it out of my house.
It took almost a year for me to get my replacement cpap machine
I had a cpad machine in county but didn’t work .had it for 2 years
So I got a New Dreamstation a few days ago from Philips but they want me to turn in the old machine by FEDEX at no cost to me but the machine was issued by VA. That doesn’t sound right to me?!?!?
How do I get my machine recalled? Who do I contact?
My doctor can do nothing. I don’t qualify till July for a new machine through my insurance and have no idea when I am getting anything from Phillips. They have no way to track the machines that were registered for recall for replacement. Horribly handled but such a large company. Everyone that registered should be compensated
Been using CPAP for 14 years. Philipps dream station for the last 51/2 years. Health has declined to a point of being able to walk only 40 feet without gasping for air. Am Also on oxygen for the last 2 years. Now that I can’t get my CPAP replaced by Phillips (it is broken also) I am struggling to sleep. I use oxygen all night long which helps some but not to get good rest. Phillips has been no help , only saying for the last 4 months that they can’t get me a new machine.?
Since using the cpap machine I have had to be placed on an emergency inhaler (abuterol). I have developed breathing issues where I am wheezing a lot
I would love to know how long the company was aware of this problem in my Dreamstation CPAP Machine before they made it public. How much damage have my lungs sustained since I started using it 4 years ago. A therapist suggested that it was at least 10 years!