Oximetry Catheter for Patients with Severe Sepsis

A new central venous oximetry catheter measures oxygen saturation, which aids doctors in managing patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. The catheter was introduced at the annual meeting of the Society of Critical Care Medicine in San Antonio (TX, USA).

Severe sepsis and septic shock are among the leading causes of death in intensive care units. A study has shown that monitoring ScvO2 in patients with sepsis or septic shock in conjunction with other hemodynamic parameters can lower in-hospital mortality of these patients by 34%, result in less severe organ failure, and reduce hospital stays of those patients surviving to discharge.

The catheter, called PreSep, was developed by Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (Irvine, CA, USA), a leading supplier of heart valves. "The medical community faces a growing need to effectively diagnose and treat sepsis,” said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO of Edwards. "The PreSep catheter is designed to provide today's clinician with a valuable tool in the fight against this deadly condition.”




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