FDA alerts patients, providers of Philips Respironics masks recall

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication alert on September 6 informing patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers that Philips Respironics (Philips) has recalled certain masks used with bilevel positive airway pressure (Bilevel PAP, BiPAP, or BPAP) machines and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines due to a serious safety concern.

According to the alert, the recalled masks have magnets that can cause potential injuries or death when used, as the magnets can interfere with certain implanted metallic medical devices and objects in the body. The risk of injury can occur in people using the masks as well as in people near someone using them.

Additionally, the recalled Philips masks may be used with other manufacturers’ BiPAP and CPAP machines. Users of any BiPAP or CPAP machine should check to see whether their mask is one of the recalled Philips masks, the FDA advised.