Deltex Medical Regulatory News (DEMG)

19 Sep 2005 07:00

Deltex Medical Group PLC19 September 2005 19 September 2005 Deltex Medical Group plc ('Deltex Medical' / 'Company') London teaching hospitals evaluating use of CardioQ(TM) in operating theatres Deltex Medical, the AIM listed haemodynamic monitoring company, today announcesthat three major London teaching hospitals have each committed to evaluate itsCardioQ oesophageal Doppler monitors in operating theatres. The Boardunderstands that if these evaluations confirm that routine use of the CardioQallows the hospitals to improve both the quality and cost effectiveness ofsurgical care, the doctors leading the projects expect that the respectivehospitals will make available sufficient funds to implement the CardioQ as astandard of care for moderate and major surgery. The Company is supporting these evaluations according to the training and datacollection needs of each of the three hospitals. In two cases, this includeslending monitors to the hospitals for the duration of the evaluation and, in thethird case, providing a limited number of free-of-charge probes following therecent purchase by the hospital of three CardioQ monitors exclusively for use inits operating theatres. Deltex Medical's Chief Executive, Andy Hill, commented: "It is encouraging that three London teaching hospitals have independentlydecided to evaluate their ability to deliver the proven clinical and economicbenefits of haemodynamically optimising patients using the CardioQ. At a timewhen most UK NHS hospitals are trying to minimise or totally avoid anyexpenditure on new equipment, this demonstrates that investment in our productsis now increasingly seen as a high priority. "The London teaching hospitals have a long history of setting standards whichothers follow, so we would expect successful conclusions to these evaluations tohelp unblock the funding of CardioQs in a significant number of other UKhospitals." For further information, please contact:- Deltex Medical Group plc01243 774 837Nigel Keen, ChairmanAndy Hill, Chief ExecutiveEwan Phillips, Finance Director Financial Dynamics0207 831 3113David Yates/ John Gilbert 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 amountof circulating 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