Edwards previews new minimally invasive heart monitor at SCCM
17 January 2005
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), a global leader in
haemodynamic monitoring technologies, is previewing its Edwards FloTrac
sensor, a new minimally invasive haemodynamic monitoring device, at the
Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) 34th Critical Care Congress,
January 15—19 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Clinicians monitor patients' cardiovascular performance with a variety of
haemodynamic monitoring tools, depending upon a patient's condition. In
critical and intensive care settings, clinicians need to monitor cardiac
output, including oxygen saturation levels, blood pressure and blood volume,
preferably on a continuous basis. Traditionally, these critical parameters
have been gathered through pulmonary artery catheters that are threaded into
a patient's heart. Edwards, which pioneered pulmonary artery catheter
technologies and is the world's leading haemodynamic monitoring company,
developed the FloTrac sensor so clinicians could gauge some of these patient
parameters less invasively.
The Edwards FloTrac sensor provides certain key continuous cardiac
measurements by accessing data directly from an arterial line, which is a
small catheter inserted into the patient's radial artery. Most critically
ill or surgical patients in hospitals already have an arterial line in place
to measure basic cardiovascular information and to draw blood, making the
FloTrac sensor very easy to use.
The sensor's unique technological platform enables clinicians to elect a
less-invasive option for those patients who need hemodynamic monitoring, but
who may not require all of the parameters offered by Edwards' line of
Swan-Ganz catheters.
"Edwards' Swan-Ganz catheter is considered the 'gold standard' for
conventional hemodynamic monitoring," said Anita B. Bessler, Edwards
corporate vice president, global franchise management. "We developed the
FloTrac technology to enable clinicians to assess hemodynamic parameters for
a broader population of patients who could benefit from monitoring but who
traditionally are not candidates for the more invasive existing technology.
"Initial clinician feedback from FloTrac sensor pilot studies has been
very positive," Bessler added, "and we expect to make this product widely
available in the US and Europe later this year, pending the appropriate
regulatory approvals."
Gerard R Manecke, Jr, MD, clinical professor in UC San Diego School of
Medicine's department of anesthesiology, reported at the SCCM on January 16
that a preliminary study of 11 heart surgery patients demonstrated that the
FloTrac sensor provided a reliable, minimally invasive method for measuring
cardiac output, when compared with the Swan-Ganz catheter.
Edwards Highlights Latest Critical Care Monitoring Technologies
In addition to previewing its FloTrac sensor at the SCCM 2005 Congress,
Edwards also is launching its new Vigilance II monitor, the next generation
of continuous cardiac output and oximetry monitors for use with Swan-Ganz
catheters. The Vigilance II monitor features a streamlined design, as well
as a large, color, customizable display. The Vigilance II monitor also
offers clinicians a unique data graph, which can simplify complex data and
provide a clearer picture of hemodynamic performance, thereby allowing
clinicians to more easily assess a patient's condition.
Edwards' PreSep central venous oximetry catheter, which serves as an
integral part of Early Goal-Directed Therapy for managing sepsis, also will
be highlighted in several scientific sessions at SCCM. Edwards is featuring
its PreSep catheter, along with the FloTrac sensor and the Vigilance II
monitor, at booth #2601 in the Phoenix Civic Plaza exhibit hall at SCCM.
Edwards also is hosting an educational program, "The Hemodynamic
Monitoring Landscape: Broader Horizons," for SCCM attendees on January 18 at
the Phoenix Civic Plaza. Featured speakers will include Michael R. Pinsky,
MD, professor of critical care management at the University of Pittsburgh;
Vincente H. Gracias, MD, medical director of surgical critical care at the
University of Pennsylvania Hospital; and William T. McGee, MD, assistant
professor of critical care medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine
in Boston, Mass.
Additional company information on Edwards Life Sciences can be found at
www.edwards.com
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