IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - February 15, 2010) - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, today announced the publication of new clinical data demonstrating reduced hospital stay and complications associated with the use of its minimally invasive FloTrac system for monitoring critical care patients when compared to standard hemodynamic monitoring.
The randomized, controlled clinical trial of 60 high-risk abdominal surgery patients found that enhanced hemodynamic monitoring with the FloTrac system reduced hospital stay by more than 20 percent when compared to standard monitoring (15.1 +/- 4.1 days versus 19.7 +/- 8.6 days). In addition, patients monitored with the FloTrac system experienced 60 percent fewer complications than the control group (20 percent complication rate versus 50 percent). The single-center study was performed at Klinikum Ludwigshafen in Ludwigshafen, Germany and the data were published today in the journal Critical Care.
“These new data represent clinical evidence that a hemodynamic monitoring protocol optimized by using the FloTrac system may improve patient outcomes, an end-goal that all critical care clinicians seek,” said Dr. Joachim Boldt, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Klinikum Ludwigshafen. “These results are encouraging for patient outcomes, and by reducing hospital stays, there is also potential to lower costs.” Boldt provides paid consulting services to Edwards for education and research and development for critical care technologies.
“We strive to provide clarity of patient information for clinicians to enable informed decision-making that leads to optimal outcomes,” said Carlyn D. Solomon, Edwards’ corporate vice president, Critical Care. “We are gratified to be building a portfolio of evidence that demonstrates the clinical value of this advanced method of monitoring to enhance the care of the critically ill.”
About the FloTrac System
The FloTrac system leads the global market in minimally invasive monitoring, providing continuous hemodynamic measurements for high-risk and critically ill patients. This easy-to-use system attaches to an existing arterial line, a small catheter inserted into the patient’s radial artery. Traditionally, these parameters are measured through a more invasive pulmonary artery catheter placed in the patient’s heart. While clinicians continue to rely on Edwards’ Swan-Ganz catheters as the gold standard for obtaining the most comprehensive level of hemodynamic monitoring, the FloTrac system is used to gather many of those same parameters earlier and less invasively -- enabling previously unmonitored patients to receive more advanced care.
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, with more than five decades of experience in partnering with clinicians to develop life-saving innovations. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treats advanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valve therapies, and critical care and vascular technologies, which are sold in approximately 100 countries. The company’s global brands include Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com.
Edwards is a trademark of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN, FloTrac, Fogarty, Magna, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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Investor Contact:
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