Transit Time Flow Measurement (TTFM) to assess graft patency in cardiac surgery is now recommended by the European Guidelines on Myocardial Revascularization

MediStim is developing, manufacturing and selling medical equipment which is applied to measure blood flow during surgical procedures, including coronary artery bypass surgery, by the principle of transit time flow measurement. MediStim has several flowmeters on the market, known by the trade names Cardiomed, Butterfly, VeriQ and VeriQC.

This fall, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) published their new, joint guidelines on myocardial revascularization (see link below). They were published online late August, presented at the EACTS conference in September and published in the European Heart Journal October 2010 issue.

In chapter 10.2.2 on bypass grafting, the value of measuring flow by TTFM is highlighted, with technical specifications perfectly matching MediStim's flowmeters. The recommendation is referring to the recent study published by Dr. Teresa Kieser ; "Transit-time flow predicts outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft patients: a series of 1000 consecutive grafts". This study was performed with MediStim's VeriQ flowmeter.

Quote from the Guidelines: "Graft flow measurement, related to graft type, vessel size, degree of stenosis, quality of anastomosis, and outflow area, is useful at the end of surgery. Flow <20 mL/min and Pulsatility Index >5 predict technically inadequate grafts, mandating graft revision before leaving the operating theatre. "

In conclusion, graft evaluation by TTFM before leaving the operating room is recommended by the EACTS and ESC to represent good clinical practice.

 "The embrace and active recommendation from societies such as the EACTS and ESC are very important milestones for MediStim, on our journey to fulfill the company's vision of truly becoming standard of care in every market", says MediStims CEO, Kari E. Krogstad in a comment, and add:. "This will support MediStims growth ambition, since the recommendation is only followed in just over 20 % of the procedures performed on a global basis."

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