Elective heart procedures are being postponed in Dutch hospitals after a recall of a medical device used in cardiac catheterization, while emergency care for heart attacks and other acute conditions continues in about 30 hospitals.

The disruption follows a recall of so-called kranenblokken and a rotatable syringe adapter manufactured by U.S. company Medline. The Dutch Heart Foundation and the Dutch Society of Cardiology (NVVC) warned after reporting that the devices may shed small particles during use and, in some cases, allow air into the system. Doctors also reported that plastic fragments could break loose. According to medical authorities, the defects could cause serious injury, including embolism or death.

At least 25 hospitals have reported shortages of the devices through the Zorg Inkoop Netwerk Nederland, which monitors medical supply issues. Several hospitals have suspended non-urgent cardiac catheterization procedures as a result.

“It is unfortunate that patients may therefore have to wait longer for these planned examinations or treatments. However, in the current situation, it is necessary to give priority to emergency care,” the Dutch Heart Foundation and NVVC said. “Meanwhile, the manufacturer is working on a structural solution.”

Lodewijk Wagenaar of the NVVC said the shortage is affecting a large part of Dutch hospitals. “A large part of hospitals is dealing with this,” he said. “It concerns the connection to the stopcock block we use in cardiac catheterization and angioplasty. This is an essential component for determining which fluid we use. A cardiac catheterization cannot be done without it. Unfortunately, we have few alternatives. Each hospital has systems that must fit together.”

He said urgent cases are being prioritized. “Non-urgent care will unfortunately have to wait,” Wagenaar said. “But if these patients develop more symptoms, they should contact their cardiologist. We are now consulting on how to get safe products to the Netherlands as quickly as possible.”

Hospitals have continued emergency cardiac care using limited replacement materials, according to the NVVC. Medline is also working on a temporary supply solution for hospitals providing acute care.

The affected device is a rotating adapter used during heart catheterization procedures, including stent placement and coronary artery imaging. It connects a syringe to tubing used to inject contrast fluid and other substances.

Doctors said the defect can allow air to enter the system or release plastic particles during use, creating a risk of embolism. Several hospitals have closed catheterization rooms for non-urgent procedures while supplies remain limited.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration instructed Medline to notify customers to destroy affected products following earlier warnings about manufacturing problems. Between June 2023 and February 2026, customers filed over 200 complaints, including reports of foreign particles and hair found in syringes. The FDA also cited inadequate cleaning practices and deficiencies in safety testing.

Medline initially assessed the risks as low. The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate initially found Medline’s mitigation plan sufficient, citing concerns about continuity of care and the limited number of complaints. However, after safety risks were reassessed as more serious, authorities opted for a recall and are now coordinating with stakeholders to restore normal scheduling of heart procedures.

In rare urgent cases where no alternative is available, the FDA said doctors may still use the Namic adapter “with extreme caution and vigilance,” including visual inspection of connections and extensive manual flushing of the system.