Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

18 Jan 2008 11:41

Deltex Medical Group PLC18 January 2008 18th January 2008 Deltex Medical Group plc HSJ article highlights CardioQTM's role in tackling wide variations in lengths of stay in NHS hospitals 18 January 2008 - Deltex Medical Group plc ("Deltex Medical"), the UK's leadinghaemodynamic monitoring company, notes that an article in this week's HealthService Journal (HSJ) has highlighted the role that the Company's products canplay in reducing length of stay for surgical patients. The article was written by Dr Andy Webb, the medical director of UniversityCollege London Hospital (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust and refers to data compiledby Dr Foster on the average lengths of stay of patients having bowel or hipreplacement surgery in NHS hospitals in England. This data, commissioned byDeltex Medical, shows wide variation in lengths of stay. Dr Webb goes on tohighlight the work done at various NHS hospitals, including the Freeman hospitalin Newcastle and UCLH, to improve patients' outcomes and reduce lengths of staythrough a combination of enhanced recovery programmes, oesophageal Dopplermonitoring (using the CardioQ) and keyhole surgery. The data on NHS lengths of stay for hip replacement surgery and bowel surgery isavailable on www.reducinglengthofstay.org. The online version of the HSJ articleis available to registered users on http://www.hsj.co.uk/goodmanagement/2008/01/solutions_for_reducing_length_of_stay.html Deltex Medical's Chief Executive, Andy Hill commented: "The HSJ is widely read amongst NHS managers and the publication of Dr Webb'sarticle shows the growing profile of our products in delivering solutions to thechallenges facing modern NHS hospitals." For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc 01243 774 837 Nigel Keen, Chairman njk@deltexmedical.comAndy Hill, Chief Executive ahill@deltexmedical.comEwan Phillips, Finance Director eap@deltexmedical.com Gavin Anderson & Company 020 7554 1400 Deborah Walter dwalter@gavinanderson.co.ukRobert Speed rspeed@gavinanderson.co.uk Charles Stanley Securities 020 7149 6000 Philip Davies philip.davies@csysecurities.comRussell Cook russell.cook@csysecurities.com Notes for Editors Deltex Medical manufactures and markets the CardioQTM 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 haemodynamicallyoptimise critically ill patients and those undergoing routine moderate to majorsurgery through the controlled administration of fluid and drugs. Haemodynamicoptimisation has been scientifically proven to improve the speed and quality ofpatient recovery and reduce hospital stay. There are already over 1,250 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 SupraQTM 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