Thopaz™ Chest Drainage Shortens Chest Tube Duration and Length of Stay by One Full Day

MCHENRY, Ill., Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Medela Healthcare announced research results showing that surgical patients who were managed with digital chest drainage system Thopaz™ had a significantly shorter postoperative length of stay and chest tube duration, due to reduced air leak duration, compared to those managed with traditional devices. Results from a recent global study that included 400 patients also revealed improved ability to arise from bed and system convenience for patients and personnel.

Presenting the findings for the first time at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons 50^th Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL., Professor Frank Detterbeck, MD, chief of thoracic surgery at Yale School of Medicine said, "This randomized trial demonstrates a statistically significant reduction in hospital stay by one whole day through the use of the Thopaz digital chest drainage system." 

The aim of this study was to compare the impact of digital chest drainage devices with traditional drainage devices on duration of air leak, chest tube removal and hospital stay after lobectomy/segmentectomy. The multicenter global study was performed at four international centers including the United States (New Haven, Conn.), Europe (U.K. & Italy) and Asia (Hong Kong).

As the first multicenter study of the Medela Thopaz, the results data show global consistency between the different centers. Joint lead author, Dr. Alessandro Brunelli, of Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy, secretary general at European Society of Thoracic Surgeons, said of the study, "The analysis revealed consistent findings between the different participating centers. This represents interesting and novel information proving the ubiquitous efficacy of Thopaz."

Inez Cregan, Ph.D., Medela cardiothoracic research manager, observes that "these findings have confirmed previous investigations performed in single centers that Thopaz is consistently improving patient care. Such studies reinforce Medela's commitment to research and an evidence-based approach."

Also presenting his findings in using Thopaz, at this same congress, John C. Wain, MD, assistant professor of surgery, Harvard Medical School, and director, lung transplant program, Massachusetts General Hospital, presented his findings of a separate independent study, where he showed that the research team has been able "to eliminate two x-rays per patient when on Thopaz, subsequently reducing the total cost per patient in doing so."

Thopaz by Medela optimizes patient care through pioneering and intelligent, mobile digital chest drainage therapy.

About Medela

With over 50 years of leadership in medical vacuum technology, Medela has proven success in developing innovative and award winning products that deliver Swiss engineering quality and reliability. Medela has 17 subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia, distributes its products in over 90 countries and employs 1,500 staff worldwide.

For more information about Thopaz™ or other Medela products, e-mail inquiries to [email protected], call (877) 694-6842, or visit www.medela.com.

Media Contact:
John Broughton
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SOURCE Medela