Reported Reactions

Devices › Ventricular (assist) bypass

Device brand name · Ventricular assisst bypass

HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump: medical device reports filed with FDA

36,450 reports name it, 2015–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Heartware. Product code DSQ.

36,450
device reports naming the brand
0.1% of all MAUDE reports · about 3,241 a year
1,304
reports, 12 months to August 2026
1,931 in the 12 months before
9.2%
classified as malfunction
37% across the product code
13.4%
classified as death, as reported
4,887 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 36,450 reports that name the brand "HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump" (ventricular assisst bypass), received between April 2015 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Heartware. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

1,304 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 32% from 1,931 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are injury (77.4%), death (13.4%) and malfunction (9.2%); across all ventricular (assist) bypass reports (product code DSQ) death is recorded in 14.6% and malfunction in 37%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are pumping problem (18.1%), obstruction of flow (1.7%) and pumping stopped (1.5%). The patient problems coded most often are blood loss, hemolysis and hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

01,0312,062Sep 2021: 85Oct 2021: 1,087Nov 2021: 144Dec 2021: 872022Jan 2022: 214Feb 2022: 2,062Mar 2022: 1,497Apr 2022: 225May 2022: 187Jun 2022: 886Jul 2022: 222Aug 2022: 229Sep 2022: 571Oct 2022: 98Nov 2022: 103Dec 2022: 1062023Jan 2023: 117Feb 2023: 641Mar 2023: 69Apr 2023: 620May 2023: 68Jun 2023: 78Jul 2023: 557Aug 2023: 101Sep 2023: 108Oct 2023: 641Nov 2023: 87Dec 2023: 652024Jan 2024: 215Feb 2024: 633Mar 2024: 203Apr 2024: 404May 2024: 1,605Jun 2024: 75Jul 2024: 353Aug 2024: 117Sep 2024: 81Oct 2024: 74Nov 2024: 347Dec 2024: 622025Jan 2025: 63Feb 2025: 353Mar 2025: 63Apr 2025: 308May 2025: 58Jun 2025: 70Jul 2025: 383Aug 2025: 69Sep 2025: 56Oct 2025: 217Nov 2025: 55Dec 2025: 372026Jan 2026: 36Feb 2026: 264Mar 2026: 55Apr 2026: 239May 2026: 50Jun 2026: 48Jul 2026: 210Aug 2026: 37

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

04,3758,7502015: 520152016: 232017: 67120172018: 8462019: 8,75020192020: 4,5782021: 5,18520212022: 6,4002023: 3,15220232024: 4,1692025: 1,73220252026: 939

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death13.4%4,887
Injury77.4%28,224
Malfunction9.2%3,339
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report99.9%36,425
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0.1%25

Grey bar: all 158,083 reports carrying product code DSQ. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Pumping problem6,59418.1%6.1%
Obstruction of flow6131.7%1.3%
Pumping stopped5351.5%3.2%
Power problem4281.2%4.5%
Battery problema problem with the battery2900.8%6.5%
Increase in suction2850.8%0.2%
Noise, audible2080.6%0.4%
Failure to pump2040.6%0.2%
Electrical /electronic property probleman electrical or electronic problem1690.5%1.9%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material1670.5%1.9%
Disconnection1370.4%2%
Insufficient device problem information890.2%1.8%
Deformation due to compressive stress810.2%0.1%
Malposition of device760.2%0.4%
Connection problema connection problem660.2%2.5%
Restricted flow rate380.1%0.1%
Vibration370.1%0.1%
Material deformation360.1%0.9%
No audible alarm190.1%0.4%
Date/time-related software problem170%0.1%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Blood loss4,56712.5%
Hemolysis2,0645.7%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding2,0185.5%
Thrombosis/thrombus1,8295%
Heart failure/congestive heart failure1,8024.9%
Arrhythmia1,7694.9%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term1,6334.5%
Renal failurekidney failure1,6334.5%
Stroke/cva1,5174.2%
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage1,4844.1%
Thrombus1,4103.9%
Respiratory failurethe lungs could not supply enough oxygen1,3543.7%
Bacterial infectiona bacterial infection1,2223.4%
Sepsisa severe body-wide response to infection1,0112.8%
High blood pressure/ hypertension9852.7%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureHeartWare Ventricular Assist System - PumpProduct code DSQAll MAUDE reports
Reports36,450158,08326,136,888
Share of that pool—23.1%0.1%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports1341469
Classified as injury77.4%48.3%36.2%
Classified as malfunction9.2%37%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer99.9%97%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code DSQ

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Heartware Ventricular Assist System14,55006.9%
HeartMate 3 LVAS Implant Kit13,50062638%
Thoratec HeartMate 3 LVAS Implant Kit8,1303,00829.7%
HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist System5,85812218.6%
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Controller 2.05,8311320.5%
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Battery5,010470%
Thoratec HeartMate 3 System Controller3,5911,3870%
HeartMate 3 System Controller3,4732470.3%
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Driveline3,0031591.5%
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump/Driveline2,16014716.6%
Heartmate Mobile Power Unit Na2,09640.1%
Heartware Ventricular Assist System-Pump1,424019.9%
Heartware Ventricular Assist System- Pump1,306035.4%
Heartmate Mobile Power Unit N/A1,2345190%
HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Waist Pack917170%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump reports

How many FDA reports name HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump?

36,450 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 1,304 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

injury (77.4%), death (13.4%) and malfunction (9.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

pumping problem (18.1%), obstruction of flow (1.7%), pumping stopped (1.5%), power problem (1.2%) and battery problem (0.8%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (99.9%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that HeartWare Ventricular Assist System - Pump was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.