— ClearFlow Executives Comment on Possible Solutions to Retained Blood Syndrome for  Challenging Patient Population–

Anaheim, CA – April 28, 2016—Cardiac surgery investigators presented data revealing the role retained blood plays in complications after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation this week at the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation 2016 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

All patients recovering from LVAD implantation require chest tubes to drain shed blood around the heart and lungs in early recovery. If these chest tubes clog, Retained Blood Syndrome (RBS) may occur.

Yesterday, Mayo Clinic heart surgeon Simon Maltais, MD, Ph.D, presented data from 252 patients undergoing VAD implantation. Results revealed that more than 50% of the patients studied required surgical reinterventions to manage complications related to RBS during early recovery. Patients who required reinterventions were reported to have a statistically significant increase in complications during recovery, such as an increase in mortality, longer ICU and hospital stays as well as higher incidence of hemodialysis and longer ventilator times.

“The clogging of chest tubes used to evacuate blood around the heart and lungs is all too common, and this can be particularly problematic in complicated heart surgery procedures such as LVADs,” said Ed Boyle, M.D., the founder and chairman of ClearFlow, Inc. ClearFlow, a medical device company based in Anaheim, CA, is the manufacturer of the innovative PleuraFlow® Active Clearance Technology® System – the only FDA cleared device available that enables caregivers to proactively keep chest drainage tubes clear of blood clots and minimizes the occurrence of Retained Blood Syndrome after heart surgery. “This study illustrates how important this can be for patients recovering from LVAD implantation.”

“This significant clinical study underscores a clear unmet need for advanced heart failure patients recovering from LVAD implantation to include approaches to limit RBS,” added ClearFlow’s CEO, Paul Molloy. “Quality programs to reduce RBS may lessen the number of complications dramatically. Lack of consistent protocols regarding chest tube clearance after cardiac surgery and the unacceptable failure rates of current available drains marks an important target for continuous quality improvement to this goal.”

The PleuraFlow Active Clearance Technology System is approved for use in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and other countries in Asia and the Middle East.
About ClearFlow, Inc.

ClearFlow, Inc. is an Anaheim, CA based medical device company that has developed a patented active blood and fluid evacuation system to speed recovery, reduce complications and lower healthcare costs related to medical tube obstruction. The company has been awarded several prestigious awards, including the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgeons Techno-College Innovation Award for worldwide innovation that has the potential to change the standard of care in heart and lung surgery, and the Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions Award, among others.

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PleuraFlow and Active Clearance Technology are registered trademarks of ClearFlow, Inc.

Media Contact:
Paul Williams
310/569-0023
paul@medialinecommunications.com