Philips Respiratory Aids—a Recall-Worthy Health Hazard!

There’s bad news for people who rely on CPAP machines and respiratory ventilators from technology giant Philips. The company is recalling 18 of its products because of newly-found health hazards.  

The recall includes 3-4 million units shipped globally. Two million of those units are in the US. 

What’s all the fuss?

Philips’s Quality Management System found two serious issues with the foam used in the devices that make them unsafe for patient use. 

More precisely, researchers found that the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) foam can: 

• release tiny particles into people’s airways or digestive tubes 
• emit toxic chemicals

The foam is used  primarily to dampen the noise made by the machines, but it ended up putting patient’s health at risk with multiple adverse effects such as:

• headache 
• irritation 
• inflammation
• hypersensitivity 
• nausea/vomiting 
• toxic and carcinogenic effects
• other respiratory issues

The official Philips announcement suggests the discontinuation of use for all CPAP machines and non-life-support ventilators. 

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are an effective non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the Philips models are some of the most popular.

In most cases, patients can use an alternative machine or one of the effective anti-snoring aids on the market.  

The issue is more complicated for people whose lives depend on the use of life-supporting ventilators. The advice to them is to use an inline bacterial filter and continue using it until a proper replacement is available.

Which Philips machines are being recalled?

CPAP and BiLevel PAP Devices:

• E30
• DreamStation (ASV, ST, AVAPS, CPAP, Auto CPAP, BiPAP)
• DreamStation GO (CPAP, APAP)
• Dorma (400, 500, CPAP)
• REMStar SE Auto CPAP
• SystemOne (ASV4, Q Series)
• C Series ASV, S/T, AVAPS
• OmniLab Advanced Plus In-Lab Titration Device

Mechanical Ventilators:

• Trilogy 100, 200
• Garbin Plus, Aeris, LifeVent
• A-Series BiPAP (Hybrid A30, V30 Auto, A40, A30)

What’s next? 

Philips has created a processing and support center to facilitate the collection, repair, and replacement of the faulty devices.