Devices › Prosthesis, esophageal
Device brand name · Prosthesis esophageal
WallFlex? Esophageal: medical device reports filed with FDA
495 reports name it, 2009–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Boston Scientific - Galway. Product code ESW.
- 495
- device reports naming the brand
- 0% of all MAUDE reports · about 29 a year
- 12
- reports, 12 months to August 2026
- 26 in the 12 months before
- 29.5%
- classified as malfunction
- 49% across the product code
- 6.1%
- classified as death, as reported
- 30 reports · not verified by FDA
495 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "WallFlex? Esophageal" (prosthesis esophageal); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Boston Scientific - Galway; received from March 2009 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.
12 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 54% from 26 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 (64.4%), malfunction (29.5%) and death (6.1%); across all prosthesis, esophageal reports (product code ESW) death is recorded in 4.2% and malfunction in 49%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.
The device problems coded most often are migration or expulsion of device (17.4%), detachment of device or device component (15.6%) and positioning problem (14.3%). The patient problems coded most often are dysphagia/ odynophagia, death 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
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
Event type and report source
Event type, as classified on the report
Who filed the report
Grey bar: all 3,101 reports carrying product code ESW. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.
Device problems coded
| Device problem (FDA code) | Reports | Share | Share across product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Migration or expulsion of device | 86 | 17.4% | 13.3% |
| Detachment of device or device componentpart of the device came off | 77 | 15.6% | 3% |
| Positioning problem | 71 | 14.3% | 5.7% |
| Difficult to removethe device was hard to remove | 59 | 11.9% | 5.3% |
| Migrationthe device moved from where it was placed | 42 | 8.5% | 5.9% |
| Material integrity problema problem with the device material | 41 | 8.3% | 2.9% |
| Breakthe device broke | 34 | 6.9% | 8.1% |
| Activation failure | 26 | 5.3% | 8.3% |
| Activation, positioning or separation problem | 26 | 5.3% | 18.3% |
| Partial blockage | 17 | 3.4% | 2.8% |
| Positioning failure | 17 | 3.4% | 6.5% |
| Premature activation | 17 | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| Material deformation | 14 | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Failure to advance | 10 | 2% | 1.7% |
| Hole in material | 9 | 1.8% | 0.8% |
| Obstruction of flow | 9 | 1.8% | 0.5% |
| Detachment of device component | 7 | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Occlusion within devicethe device blocked | 4 | 0.8% | 0.9% |
| Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label | 3 | 0.6% | 0.2% |
| Difficult to advance | 3 | 0.6% | 0.4% |
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) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Dysphagia/ odynophagia | 32 | 6.5% |
| Deaththe patient died; cause not stated by this term | 28 | 5.7% |
| Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding | 26 | 5.3% |
| Erosion | 15 | 3% |
| Foreign body in patientpart of a device left in the patient | 12 | 2.4% |
| Painpain, site not specified | 10 | 2% |
| Discomfortdiscomfort | 8 | 1.6% |
| Perforation | 7 | 1.4% |
| Chest painchest pain | 6 | 1.2% |
| Fistula | 6 | 1.2% |
| Nauseafeeling sick | 6 | 1.2% |
| Dyspneashortness of breath | 4 | 0.8% |
| Fever | 4 | 0.8% |
| Vomitingbeing sick | 4 | 0.8% |
| Abdominal painstomach or belly pain | 3 | 0.6% |
Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.
In context
| Measure | WallFlex? Esophageal | Product code ESW | All MAUDE reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports | 495 | 3,101 | 26,136,888 |
| Share of that pool | — | 16% | 0% |
| Classified as death, per 1,000 reports | 61 | 42 | 9 |
| Classified as injury | 64.4% | 46.2% | 36.2% |
| Classified as malfunction | 29.5% | 49% | 62.3% |
| Filed by the manufacturer | 99.6% | 95.8% | 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 ESW
| Brand | Reports | Latest 12 months | Classified as death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultraflex Esophageal NG | 578 | 26 | 1.2% |
| Niti-S Esophageal Covered Stent | 178 | 4 | 2.2% |
| Ultraflex | 198 | 0 | 4.5% |
| Evolution Esophageal Controlled-Release Stent - Partially Covered | 156 | 6 | 0.6% |
| Ultraflex Tracheobronchial | 713 | 51 | 0.3% |
| Evolution Biliary Controlled-Release Stent - Fully Covered | 600 | 99 | 0.2% |
| Fluency Plus Tracheobronchial Stent Graft | 323 | 0 | 0% |
| Rusch | 285 | 0 | 1.8% |
| Boston Scientific | 580 | 5 | 3.3% |
| Insulin Infusion Pump | 5,096 | 0 | 2.6% |
| Interstim | 11,298 | 1,522 | 0.2% |
| Wallstent Biliary | 161 | 5 | 0.6% |
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? Esophageal reports
How many FDA reports name WallFlex? Esophageal?
495 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 12 in the latest 12 months.
What kinds of events are reported?
injury (64.4%), malfunction (29.5%) and death (6.1%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.
What device problems are coded?
migration or expulsion of device (17.4%), detachment of device or device component (15.6%), positioning problem (14.3%), difficult to remove (11.9%) and migration (8.5%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.
Who files these reports?
manufacturer reports (99.6%) and voluntary reports (0.2%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.
Do these reports show that WallFlex? Esophageal 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.