Reported Reactions

Devices › Stents, drains and dilators for the biliary ducts

Device brand name · Catheter biliary diagnostic

WallFlex Biliary RX Stent System: medical device reports filed with FDA

774 reports name it, 2009–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Boston Scientific - Galway. Product code FGE.

774
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 46 a year
25
reports, 12 months to August 2026
17 in the 12 months before
49.2%
classified as malfunction
69% across the product code
2.2%
classified as death, as reported
17 reports · not verified by FDA

FDA's MAUDE database holds 774 reports that name the brand "WallFlex Biliary RX Stent System" (catheter biliary diagnostic), received between July 2009 and August 2026; the manufacturer given most often on reports is Boston Scientific - Galway. Spellings of one product vary from report to report.

25 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, up 47% from 17 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 malfunction (49.2%), injury (48.6%) and death (2.2%); across all stents, drains and dilators for the biliary ducts reports (product code FGE) death is recorded in 1.1% and malfunction in 69%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are break (20.7%), difficult to remove (19.4%) and activation, positioning or separation problem (13.2%). The patient problems coded most often are inflammation, jaundice and death. 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

035Sep 2021: 2Oct 2021: 3Nov 2021: 1Dec 2021: 42022Jan 2022: 1Feb 2022: 1Mar 2022: 1Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 1Aug 2022: 2Sep 2022: 4Oct 2022: 2Nov 2022: 5Dec 2022: 12023Jan 2023: 4Feb 2023: 2Mar 2023: 2Apr 2023: 0May 2023: 4Jun 2023: 2Jul 2023: 0Aug 2023: 2Sep 2023: 2Oct 2023: 0Nov 2023: 3Dec 2023: 02024Jan 2024: 4Feb 2024: 1Mar 2024: 4Apr 2024: 0May 2024: 1Jun 2024: 0Jul 2024: 3Aug 2024: 0Sep 2024: 0Oct 2024: 0Nov 2024: 3Dec 2024: 02025Jan 2025: 3Feb 2025: 3Mar 2025: 1Apr 2025: 1May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 2Jul 2025: 2Aug 2025: 2Sep 2025: 3Oct 2025: 2Nov 2025: 4Dec 2025: 12026Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 4Apr 2026: 2May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 3Jul 2026: 3Aug 2026: 2

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

0901802009: 420092014: 162015: 13320152016: 1802017: 16420172018: 942019: 2820192020: 252021: 3520212022: 192023: 2120232024: 162025: 2420252026: 15

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death2.2%17
Injury48.6%376
Malfunction49.2%381
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%774
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 33,832 reports carrying product code FGE. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Breakthe device broke16020.7%9.7%
Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove15019.4%5.8%
Activation, positioning or separation problem10213.2%3.1%
Partial blockage9612.4%0.6%
Migration or expulsion of device7810.1%3.3%
Material deformation698.9%3.9%
Positioning problem688.8%0.8%
Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off617.9%3.3%
Activation failure374.8%1.3%
Material integrity problema problem with the device material374.8%0.6%
Positioning failure273.5%4%
Premature activation273.5%3.9%
Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed182.3%1.5%
Obstruction of flow131.7%0.5%
Device stenosis91.2%0.1%
Difficult to advance91.2%1.5%
Defective devicethe device was defective70.9%0.3%
Difficult or delayed positioning70.9%2.7%
Component missing60.8%0.2%
Human-device interface problem50.6%0%

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
Inflammationinflammation314%
Jaundiceyellowing of the skin or eyes172.2%
Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term162.1%
Fever91.2%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding81%
Painpain, site not specified81%
Abdominal painstomach or belly pain50.6%
Nauseafeeling sick40.5%
Vomitingbeing sick40.5%
Perforation30.4%
Peritonitis30.4%
Abscessa collection of pus20.3%
Chillschills or shivering20.3%
Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient20.3%
Pancreatitisinflammation of the pancreas20.3%

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

In context

MeasureWallFlex Biliary RX Stent SystemProduct code FGEAll MAUDE reports
Reports77433,83226,136,888
Share of that pool—2.3%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports22119
Classified as injury48.6%29%36.2%
Classified as malfunction49.2%69%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%97.5%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 FGE

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Mustang5,9694910.3%
Hurricane RX1,227510.2%
Cre Pro9853410.1%
Advanix Biliary872750.9%
Absolute Pro .035 Self Expanding Stent System858380.2%
Zimmon Biliary Stent665450%
Smart Control Nitinol Stent System1,43801.7%
Evolution Biliary Controlled-Release Stent - Fully Covered600990.2%
WallFlex Biliary834561.8%
Zimmon Biliary Stent Set530340%
Express LD Vascular520470%
Extractor Rx Retrieval Balloon49900.6%
Flexima Biliary485340%
Zilver 635 Biliary Self Expanding Metal Stent362130%
Express Vascular SD383280.8%

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 WallFlex Biliary RX Stent System reports

How many FDA reports name WallFlex Biliary RX Stent System?

774 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 25 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (49.2%), injury (48.6%) and death (2.2%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

break (20.7%), difficult to remove (19.4%), activation, positioning or separation problem (13.2%), partial blockage (12.4%) and migration or expulsion of device (10.1%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that WallFlex Biliary RX Stent System 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.