Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

26 Sep 2006 09:36

Deltex Medical Group PLC26 September 2006 Deltex Medical Group plc Presentation of independent systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical data supporting the use of CardioQTM to reduce length of hospital stay 26 September 2006 Deltex Medical Group plc ('Deltex Medical' or the 'Company'),the UK's leading haemodynamic monitoring company, today highlights thepresentation of the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the publishedclinical data involving use of peri-operative oesophageal Doppler-guided fluiddelivery, a technique which enables doctors to identify and deal with reductionsin circulating blood volume that arise as a consequence of surgery and areassociated with potentially serious complications. Dr Mark Hamilton, on behalf of co-authors from the Centre for Anaesthesia,University College London and St George's Hospital, London, today presented theresults of their review at the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine(ESICM) meeting in Barcelona. The review's primary conclusion was that givingfluid, guided by oesophageal Doppler, significantly reduced hospital length ofstay for surgical patients compared to traditional fluid management. Healthcare providers around the world employ meta-analyses to support decisionsabout funding and reimbursement of new medical technologies. Examples oforganisations that undertake such analyses are the National Institute for Healthand Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK and the Agency for Health Research andQuality (AHRQ) in the USA. Dr Hamilton commented: "The use of targeted oesophageal Doppler monitoring in the peri-operative periodsignificantly reduces hospital length of stay for surgical patients. There areobvious economic and healthcare benefits to greater use of this simpletechnology." Deltex Medical's chief executive, Andy Hill, commented: "This is the first systematic review of the impact of oesophageal Doppler-guidedtherapy based on the overwhelming body of clinical data published to date. Thepositive conclusions reported by Dr Hamilton will only be further strengthenedby the addition of the recently published trial from the Freeman hospital inNewcastle that was unavailable for inclusion at the time the review wassubmitted for presentation by Dr Hamilton. "The CardioQ oesophageal Doppler haemodynamic monitor has been proven inmultiple randomised clinical trials to improve outcomes and reduce length ofstay following surgery. I believe that this meta-analysis clearly demonstratesthe urgent need to implement the CardioQ as a standard of care for patientsundergoing major surgery." For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc 01243 774 837Nigel Keen, ChairmanAndy Hill, Chief ExecutiveEwan Phillips, Finance Director Gavin Anderson & Company 020 7554 1400Deborah WalterMarie CairneyJodie Reilly Charles Stanley Securities 020 7149 6457Philip Davies 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 CardioQ which 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