OREANDA-NEWS. LiDCO Group Plc (AIM: LID), the cardiovascular monitoring company, welcomes the publication in the journal Anaesthesia of a study of the leading minimally invasive cardiac output devices tested ability to detect blood loss in awake volunteers entitled "Evaluation of the utility of the Vigileo FloTracTM, LiDCOTM, USCOM and CardioQTM to detect hypovolaemia in conscious volunteers: a proof of concept study."

It is important to quickly detect and reverse decreased blood volume (hypovolaemia). If undetected and untreated or treated late, low blood volume will lead to poor clinical outcomes post operatively. However, detection is particularly challenging in the conscious, spontaneously breathing patient in the emergency room and post-surgery where fluid responsiveness parameters are not usable.

A research group in Australia evaluated the performance of minimally invasive cardiac output monitors to detect blood loss in volunteers subjected to blood removal of 2.5% blood volume aliquots to a total of 20% blood volume removed. The devices tested were LiDCO's LiDCOrapid, Edwards Vigileo FloTracTM, and the USCOM and Deltex CardioQTM Doppler based devices.

A statistically significant difference from baseline stroke volume (a measure of the circulation ability to fill the heart effectively) was detected quickest by the LiDCO device after only 2.5% blood loss compared to the other devices where blood loss was detected less quickly. The USCOM device detected hypovolemia later than LiDCO, after three times as much blood had been lost (7.5%) and the two other monitors, Deltex CardioQ and Edwards FloTrac, after a loss of 12.5%.

Commenting, Terry O'Brien, Chief Executive Officer of LiDCO, said: "Hypovolemia is not possible to detect early enough using the traditional parameter of blood pressure. The precision to detect small changes in blood volume status is valuable in many clinical settings. Unseen blood loss can occur in the emergency room, surgery and in intensive care settings. Earliest detection must be the goal. LiDCO monitors have been shown by this excellent comparative study to be the quickest at detecting blood loss. This performance gives our customers the best chance of avoiding excessive blood loss and guiding fluid replacement."

About LiDCO Group Plc

LiDCO is a supplier of non-invasive and minimally invasive hemodynamic equipment to hospitals used 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 optimisation protocols for high risk patients in both critical care units and in the operating theatre. 

Increasingly clinical studies are showing that the optimisation 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.