LiDCO Group plc : LiDCO monitor reduces surgical complications

("LiDCO" or the "Company")

LiDCO guided oxygen delivery reduces surgical complications

LiDCO Group Plc (AIM: LID), the cardiovascular monitoring company, is pleased to announce the publication of an outcome study in Critical Care from investigators in Brazil. The results of the clinical study show that the LiDCOplus cardiac output monitor enabled physicians to safely reduce the administration of body maintenance fluids, while maintaining the necessary oxygen delivery to patients during and after surgery. The ability to safely reduce body maintenance fluids, while maintaining oxygen delivery cut the rate of postoperative complications by 67.5%. 

The prospective randomized trial was conducted in 88, older, high-risk, major surgery patients, using LiDCOplus to monitor cardiac output, fluids and to optimize oxygen delivery both during and for eight hours after surgery (Critical Care 2011, 15:R226).

In one group normal maintenance fluids were given and in the other group the total fluid load was restricted, to avoid complications associated with administration of potentially excessive maintenance fluids. 

Both groups of patients achieved high levels of oxygen delivery and in both groups complication rates were reduced from predicted levels. The best results were seen in the optimized oxygen delivery and fluid restricted patient group where only 20% of patients suffered a complication. The expected rate of complications without monitoring in this high risk group of patients was 61.5%.

The authors stated:  "In conclusion, perioperative goal-directed hemodynamic therapy with a protocol incorporating restrictive fluid maintenance and inotropic therapy to achieve the best possible oxygen deliveryin very high-risk surgical patients can be easily performed with the use of minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring to obtain continuous monitoring of cardiac output, and is related to better outcomes."

Dr Terry O'Brien, CEO of LiDCO, commented:  "Around 250 million major surgical procedures are performed worldwide each year resulting in about 12.5 million patients with surgical complications (see recent review: Managing perioperative risk in patients undergoing elective surgery in non cardiac surgery patients, Pearse et al., 2011;343:d5759 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d5759 ). Research continues to further refine and quantify the most effective approaches for treating high risk surgery patients. It is clear that lower levels of oxygen delivery in and around the time of surgery will result in multiple organ failure and, in extreme cases, death. Dr Lobo and her co-investigators have shown that use of LiDCO's monitoring technology can achieve higher levels of oxygen delivery, while ensuring that excess fluids are not given. This strategy dramatically reduced the expected complications rate by 67.5%.

"This is an outstanding result and I believe is one of the best reductions in complications seen in such a high risk group of patients. This strengthens the growing body of evidence supporting the preemptive use of LiDCO's minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring to guide oxygen levels and reduce fluid overload, Hemodynamic monitoring can clearly have great social and economic impact in this patient population achieving better outcomes through more balanced fluid and drug use."

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About LiDCO Group Plc

LiDCO is a supplier of minimally invasive hemodynamic equipment to hospitals, to monitor the amount of blood flowing around the body and ensure that vital organs are adequately oxygenated. LiDCO's products facilitate the application of hemodynamic optimization protocols for high risk patients in both critical care units and in the operating theatre.

Increasingly clinical studies are showing that the optimization of patients' hemodynamic status in high risk patients produces better outcomes and reduced hospital stay.  LiDCO's computer-based technology, developed at St Thomas' Hospital in London, has been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and complications, length of stay and overall costs associated with major surgery.

Key Products:

All LiDCO monitors use single-patient disposables (sensors or smartcards) which provide an ongoing revenue stream. 

Clinical Validation & Education

LiDCO has been selected as the sole technology for two ongoing multi-centre government-funded studies in the UK and US. OPTIMISE is sponsored by the UK Government for optimizing cardiovascular management in high-risk abdominal surgery patients and in the US, MOnIToR is a US Government sponsored transplantation donor organ optimization study. The Company has also developed a hemodynamic workshop at St George's Hospital, London.

LiDCO Distribution Network:

LiDCO's strategy is to sell directly to hospitals in the UK, and through a network of specialty critical care and anesthesia distributors in the rest of the world.

LiDCO's sales office is in Cambridge, its manufacturing facility and headquarters are in London and its shares are traded on AIM.www.lidco.com.