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FDA flags Edwards heart-valve delivery system issue after death, injury

By Thomson Reuters Oct 15, 2026 | 5:38 PM

Oct 15 (Reuters) – The US FDA on Thursday warned of a potentially high-risk ​issue involving certain Edwards ‌Lifesciences delivery systems used in transcatheter mitral valve replacement after one death and one serious ‌injury.

The ​FDA said ⁠Edwards Lifesciences had ⁠asked customers to remove affected products from use and return them after receiving three ​reports of balloons bursting during inflation.

The company reported ⁠one death and ⁠one serious injury ​associated with the issue as ​of October 5.

The affected devices ‌are certain Commander M delivery systems used with Edwards’ SAPIEN M3 transcatheter mitral ⁠valve replacement system, which received US approval in December 2025.

The FDA said ⁠balloon ‌bursts could block ⁠blood vessels or prevent ​retrieval ‌of the device, ​potentially requiring ⁠additional procedures, including surgery, in patients generally considered unsuitable for surgery.

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Anil D’Silva)