Use caution Medical device recall · FDA · Published December 18, 2020

Laerdal Compact Suction Unit (LCSU 4) Recall: Risk of Suction Failure During Medical Use

Laerdal Medical recalls LCSU 4 suction units with catalog numbers 880051-881152. Component failures may cause loss of suction, risking delayed treatment or suffocation in medical emergencies.

Plain-English summary generated from official FDA data by GovInfoNow · Published by Carlos Caban · How we make summaries

🇺🇸 FDA recall #Z-0868-2021Medical device Laerdal ›

Use caution until it’s fixed

Component failures may cause the unit to lose all suction. Users will need to obtain alternate suction devices or methods, leading to a delay in treatment and, in worst case scenario, potential suffocation if alternative suction or ventilation method is not administered by the user.

Take action

Contact the company

Recalling firmLaerdal Medical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.Science & Technology Ind. Park, No. 19 Bldg., Huoju Road · Suzhou, China

✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer

Laerdal is recalling its LCSU 4 suction units with specific catalog numbers because internal components can fail, causing the unit to lose suction. This could delay critical medical treatment and potentially lead to suffocation if the user cannot quickly switch to an alternative suction method. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/63636-laerdal-compact-suction-unit-lcsu-4-recall-risk-of-suction.

Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/63636-laerdal-compact-suction-unit-lcsu-4-recall-risk-of-suction · Updated August 19, 2026 · FDA enforcement record: FDA #Z-0868-2021

Cite this page

“Laerdal Compact Suction Unit (LCSU 4) Recall: Risk of Suction Failure During Medical Use.” GovInfoNow, updated August 19, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/63636-laerdal-compact-suction-unit-lcsu-4-recall-risk-of-suction. Based on FDA recall #Z-0868-2021 (https://api.fda.gov/device/enforcement.json?search=recall_number:%22Z-0868-2021%22&limit=1).

The FDA announced on Dec. 18, 2020, that Laerdal Medical (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is recalling the Laerdal Compact Suction Unit (LCSU 4). The agency stated the recall addresses component failures that may cause the unit to lose suction.

How to tell if you have it

Brand: Laerdal
Product: Laerdal Compact Suction Unit (LCSU 4)
Catalog Numbers: 880051, 880061, 881151, 880052, 880062, 881152
Serial number range: 1808090001 to 2006060045

The hazard

According to the FDA, component failures may cause the unit to lose all suction. This failure can lead to a delay in treatment and, in the worst-case scenario, potential suffocation if an alternative suction or ventilation method is not administered by the user.

Context

GovInfoNow's records show Laerdal issued another recall for the Compact Suction Unit 4 regarding electromagnetic noise risk on Jan. 13, 2026. Other recent recalls of similar products include Medline Intubation Tray Recall: Risk of Airway Obstruction from Wrong Suction Catheter (Dec. 24, 2025) and Genesis Push-In Suture Anchor Recall: Device Failure Risk (Dec. 17, 2025).

How to tell if you have this one

Check for catalog numbers 880051, 880061, 881151, 880052, 880062, or 881152 on the unit. The units were sold between 2008 and 2006 (based on serial numbers 1808090001 to 2006060045).

Brand
Laerdal
Category
Medical device

Based on the official FDA remedy

What to do — step by step

Check Unit Catalog Number
Identify the catalog number on the suction unit to confirm if it falls within the recalled range of 880051, 880061, 881151, 880052, 880062, or 881152.
Obtain Alternate Suction Method
If the unit is recalled, immediately switch to an alternative suction device or method to ensure continuous patient airway management.

Where it went and when

Where it was distributed

Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.

FDA distribution: “Worldwide distribution - US Nationwide distribution.” States read from FDA’s own wording; “not listed” means the notice does not name it.

Distributed nationwide, and outside the U.S.

Recall timeline

FDA terminated this recall 3 years after the firm started it.

Dec 18, 2020Firm started the recall
Jan 15, 2021FDA classified it Class II
Jan 27, 2021Published in FDA’s Enforcement Report
Dec 11, 2023FDA terminated the recall

Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.

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Link to this recall

<a href="https://govinfonow.com/recall/63636-laerdal-compact-suction-unit-lcsu-4-recall-risk-of-suction">Laerdal Compact Suction Unit (LCSU 4) Recall: Risk of Suction Failure During Medical Use (GovInfoNow)</a>

Where this comes from

The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official FDA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.

Official source: FDA Recall #Z-0868-2021 (December 18, 2020) — FDA publishes no per-recall page; this is the official machine-readable enforcement record. Search FDA recalls for Z-0868-2021 to see it in context.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on August 19, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the FDA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official FDA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.