Medical devices and the pediatric population - a head-to-toe approach.

: This review uses a head-to-toe approach, a standardized approach similar to the format used by clinicians during the physical examination, to highlight important differences between children, adolescents and adults. The assessment of a pediatric patient is significantly different from an adult and the heterogeneity of the pediatric population requires knowledge of the inter- and intra-subpopulation differences in growth and development for all organ systems. : A search of the English medical literature (PubMed and EMBASE) resulted in identification and review of articles that reported medical device use in the pediatric population based on specific organ systems.

Pediatric medical devices: a look at significant US legislation to address unmet needs.

There are many barriers to the availability of medical devices intended for the pediatric population causing healthcare providers to use creative measures to address pediatric unmet device needs. The USA has taken significant legislative measures to spur medical device development and address the unmet needs in all pediatric subpopulations. For example, the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002 amended the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act by adding new provisions intended to promote the development of safe and effective pediatric devices, and to protect the pediatric population during clinical trials.

FDA working to ensure the safety of medical devices used in the pediatric population.

Special initiatives exist in FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research to ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical products used in the vulnerable pediatric population. This article focuses on the special programs, projects, and special studies implemented by CDRH to ensure this safety and effectiveness in devices used in pediatric patients throughout the devices' total product life-cycles. Pediatricians play a major role in keeping medical devices safe for use in children by reporting device problems to FDA.

Pediatric use of insulin pump technology: a retrospective study of adverse events in children ages 1-12 years.

Background: Growing technological improvements in insulin pump design have increased the use of these devices in young children. To better understand the types of infusion pump-related problems and associated adverse events in this age group, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of pump-related adverse event reports received by the U.S.

Pediatric devices and adverse events from A to Z: understanding the benefits and risks from a US FDA perspective.

Medical devices are often overlooked as a contributor to adverse events. In clinical practice, physicians are aware of the potential for adverse effects from drug products, which are routinely included in differential diagnoses of patients' presenting complaints. However, physicians may not always consider that the use, misuse or malfunction of a medical device, and/or its components, may result in a patient's presenting signs and symptoms or lack of improvement.

Device safety and effectiveness in the pediatric population: a US FDA perspective.

The US FDA recognizes that there are many challenges to ensuring that medical devices are used responsibly and safely in the pediatric population. Education plays a key role, and manufacturers and healthcare providers must be informed of medical device issues unique to the pediatric population. Healthcare workers and device manufacturers must recognize that adverse events may differ between the adult and pediatric population and among pediatric subpopulations.

Adolescent use of insulin and patient-controlled analgesia pump technology: a 10-year Food and Drug Administration retrospective study of adverse events.

Objectives: From January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration received 5 adolescent death reports associated with the use of insulin pumps, raising concerns about use of this device in this age group. To understand better the types of infusion pump-related problems in adolescents, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of insulin and patient-controlled analgesic pump-related adverse events reported for adolescents that were received by the Food and Drug Administration from 1996 to 2005.

Methods: A search for medical device adverse event reports from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2005, involving insulin pumps or patient-controlled analgesic pumps used by patients who were aged 12 to 21 years was conducted in the Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience Database.

FDA-approved neurologic devices intended for use in infants, children, and adolescents.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several applications for the marketing of neurologic devices. Nineteen high risk Class III medical devices were approved for the central and peripheral nervous system for marketing between 1994 and 2003, and almost half (n = 8) include indications for use in children as well as adults. On July 24, 2003, the FDA Center for Devices and Radiologic Health released for public comment a draft guidance document entitled "Premarket Assessment of Pediatric Medical Devices," which included in its objectives, the types of information needed to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices intended for use in children.