Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

2 Apr 2008 07:01

Deltex Medical Group PLC02 April 2008 Deltex Medical Group plc First protocols for routine use of the CardioQ(TM) in intensive care establishedat leading acute hospital in the USA 2 April 2008 - Deltex Medical Group plc ("Deltex Medical"), the UK's leadinghaemodynamic monitoring company, today announces that intensive care doctors ata leading acute hospital in southern California have formally implemented careprotocols for monitoring patients in intensive care using the CardioQ. After the successful implementation of routine use in surgery at the hospital,doctors responsible for patients in intensive care (ICU), whetherpost-operatively or for medical reasons, undertook a short evaluation of theCardioQ to determine how to best to integrate it into ICU care protocols. Based on the results of this evaluation, draft protocols were submitted to andaccepted by the critical care committee for approval and inclusion in thehospital's clinical and management information system with immediate effect. Deltex Medical's Chief Executive, Andy Hill commented: "The integration of the CardioQ as a monitor for routine, protocol-driven use inintensive care means that doctors need no longer use more invasive and unproventechnologies for determining cardiac output in the vast majority of patientsneeding monitoring." For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc 01243 774 837Nigel Keen, Chairman njk@deltexmedical.comAndy Hill, Chief Executive ahill@deltexmedical.comEwan Phillips, Finance Director eap@deltexmedical.com Gavin Anderson & Company 0207 554 1400Deborah Walter dwalter@gavinanderson.co.ukRobert Speed rspeed@gavinanderson.co.uk Charles Stanley SecuritiesNominated Advisors 020 7149 6000Philip Davies philip.davies@csysecurities.comRussell Cook russell.cook@csysecurities.com Notes for Editors Deltex Medical manufactures and markets the CardioQ monitor, which usesdisposable ultra-sound probes inserted into the oesophagus to determine theamount of blood being pumped around the body - 'circulating blood volume'.Reduced circulating blood volume is known as hypovolaemia, which leads toinsufficient oxygen being delivered to the organs. This causes medicalcomplications including peripheral and major organ failure which can lead todeath. Hypovolaemia, which is akin to severe dehydration, affects virtuallyevery patient having surgery because of the combined effects of pre-operativestarvation, the impact of the anaesthetic agents and trauma from the surgeryitself. Using fluids and drugs, guided by the CardioQ, to optimise the amount ofcirculating blood significantly reduces post-operative complications allowingpatients to make a faster, more complete recovery and return home earlier. The CardioQ incorporates the Company's proprietary software and a smalldiameter, easy-to-use, minimally invasive, disposable oesophageal probe that isused for transmitting and receiving an ultra-sound signal. By using thistechnology, the CardioQ provides clinicians with the ability to optimisecritically ill patients and those undergoing routine moderate to major surgerythrough the controlled administration of fluid and drugs. Haemodynamicoptimisation has been proven to improve the speed and quality of patientrecovery and reduce hospital stay. There are already around 1,500 CardioQs currently in use in hospitals worldwideand distribution arrangements are in place in over 30 countries. In addition,there are currently more than 90 clinical publications on the use of the CardioQwhich have repeatedly:- •Validated the results of the Monitor against known standards for measuring cardiac output, demonstrating that the technology works •Proved that the CardioQ works in a wide range of surgical procedures •Demonstrated that the Company's technology provides significant health and economic benefits by helping to reduce post-operative complications and length of hospital stays by an average of 30 to 40 per cent for a wide range of patients. The SupraQ is an entirely non-invasive device which uses an ultrasound probeheld at the base of the patient's neck to track the flow of blood in the aorta;it presents the same data as the CardioQ in a similar format and is used fortaking snapshots or monitoring over short periods. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange