Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

18 Sep 2006 07:01

Deltex Medical Group PLC18 September 2006 Deltex Medical Group plc New CardioQ(TM) trial in paediatric intensive care units 18 September 2006 Deltex Medical Group plc ('Deltex Medical' or the 'Company'),the UK's leading haemodynamic monitoring company, today announces thecommencement of a clinical trial of the paediatric version of its CardioQoesophageal Doppler monitor (ODM). Doctors in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a major UK children'shospital are undertaking an extensive trial into the efficacy of the CardioQ asa cardiac output monitor in babies and small children. The rationale behind the study is that children who are critically ill on aventilator in intensive care require detailed monitoring of their cardiac outputstatus in order to optimise controlled administration of fluid and drugs. TheDirectors are not aware of any method of cardiac output monitoring that has beenshown to improve patient outcomes in PICU; the Directors further believe thatODM is the only minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring technology whichcan be used on babies and small children which has also been shown to improveoutcomes in adults post-operatively in intensive care in randomised controlledclinical trials. With a positive outcome, the doctors leading this study intendto go on to conduct a full randomised controlled clinical trial designed todemonstrate improved outcomes in PICU using the CardioQ to improve haemodynamicmanagement post-operatively. Deltex Medical's chief executive, Andy Hill, commented: "The CardioQ is already known to be considerably safer than the more invasivealternatives and we expect that positive results from this trial will give us asignificant long term competitive advantage in the niche PICU cardiac outputmonitoring market. Combined with the substantial adult intensive care and theintra-operative markets, the potential for CardioQ continues to grow". For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc 01243 774 837Nigel Keen, Chairman nigel.keen@deltexmedical.comAndy Hill, Chief Executive ah@deltexmedical.comEwan Phillips, Finance Director ep@deltexmedical.com Gavin Anderson & Company 0207 554 1400Deborah Walter dwalter@gavinanderson.co.ukMarie Cairney mcairney@gavinanderson.co.ukJodie Reilly jreilly@gavinanderson.co.uk Charles Stanley Securities 020 7149 6457Philip Davies philip.davies@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 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. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange