The U.S. FDA has expanded its medical device shortage list to include three different types of medical equipment that are crucial for hospital networks, including AEDs.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Chest drains are used to allow the draining of fluid or air from the chest. Autotransfusion systems allow for a person to receive their own blood for a transfusion instead of using a banked allogenic (separate-donor) blood.
All three devices are vital in a hospital setting. Unfortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added both wearable and non-wearable AEDs, chest drains/suction canisters and autotransfusion systems to the list of medical devices in short supply.
This is due to the level of supply expected for at least the rest of 2022. The FDA cited this due to both an increase in demand for these devices and a global shortage of semiconductors used in their manufacture.
Read the full article at Medical Device Network.
