Vascular grafts recalled

NATICK, Mass., Jun 28, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Boston Scientific is recalling all its Hemashield Vantage vascular grafts because they might fray or tear during suturing, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The recall is voluntary by the medical-device maker based in Natick, Mass. The company says it is aware of three post-operative failures of the grafts, the Journal said.

The grafts are used to bypass blood clots or blockages in blood vessels, usually in the leg.

In all of the cases, occurring between three and seven days following the procedure, the patients were successfully treated by re-suturing the graft or replacing it, the company said.

The company ships about 2,180 grafts annually and estimates the total number of grafts shipped but not yet implanted to be 500.

Earlier this month, Boston Scientific entered into a $75 million settlement with the government to end an investigation into the recall of some of its stents in 1998, the report said.