Clinical Study Shows Equivalent Patient Outcomes in Guiding Goal Directed Fluid Therapy (GDFT) Utilizing CHEETAH NICOM & Esophageal Doppler

NEWTON, Mass., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study from Duke University's Departments of Anesthesiology and Surgery has demonstrated equivalent outcomes between a completely non-invasive technology and a minimally invasive technology in guiding Goal Directed Fluid Therapy in colorectal surgery patients.

The Duke study, recently published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, is entitled A Prospective Comparison of a Noninvasive Cardiac Output Monitor Versus Esophageal Monitor for Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy in Colorectal Surgery Patients (Waldron et al).  The authors compared patient outcomes in a cohort of 100 patients.  In 50 patients, GDFT therapy decisions were driven by esophageal Doppler data; in the other 50 patients, GDFT therapy decisions were driven by data from the non-invasive CHEETAH NICOM.

GDFT is one of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) evidence-based pathways that have been designed to enable the earliest possible recovery for patients who have undergone major surgery.  The ERAS Guidelines have been adopted by many of the most prestigious institutions in the U.S.  According to the ERAS Society, evidence-based pathways have been shown to: "reduce care time by more than 30% and reduce postoperative complications by 50%."

"GDFT is a means of optimizing intravascular volume status and tissue perfusion and has been associated with shorter hospital LOS, fewer intensive care unit admissions, earlier return of bowel function, and less postoperative nausea/vomiting," said T.J. Gan, M.D., professor of anesthesiology at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, N.C., and senior investigator of the study.

Lead investigator Dr. Nathan Waldron said: "In conclusion, no significant differences were found between the NICOM and EDM [Esophageal Doppler Monitor] in ability to assess fluid responsiveness as part of a GDFT algorithm.  In addition, there were no clinically significant differences in LOS [Length of Stay] and postoperative recovery when GDFT was guided by the NICOM or the EDM.  However, the NICOM captured significantly more data than the EDM, was more user friendly, and is less invasive than the EDM."

Chris Hutchison, President and CEO of Cheetah Medical Inc., said: "We are delighted by the publication of this study which clearly demonstrates CHEETAH NICOM's utility in the operating room setting.  The fact that the CHEETAH NICOM is completely non-invasive allows clinicians to more easily monitor patients' fluid status across the entire continuum of care."

About Cheetah Medical
Cheetah Medical, Inc., headquartered in Newton, MA, is a global leader in non-invasive hemodynamic monitoring.  Cheetah Medical developed, manufactures and commercializes the CHEETAH NICOM Non-Invasive Hemodynamic Management System which offers innovative solutions to inform better clinical decision making.  The CHEETAH NICOM is based on the Company's proprietary bioreactance technology.  Available in more than 60 countries, including the U.S., the CHEETAH NICOM delivers value through its unique clinical and health economic advantages.  To learn more about Cheetah Medical and the CHEETAH NICOM, please visit www.cheetah-medical.com

SOURCE Cheetah Medical