SYDNEY Australia, 22 January 2013: Non-invasive cardiac monitoring company Uscom Limited (ASX:UCM) today announced the international presentation of independent data that confirms significant life-saving and cost reduction associated with USCOM guided treatment of sepsis and septic shock.
The study of a six year Australian national ICU practice audit database by Professor Brendan Smith of Charles Sturt University was published in the latest edition of the international journal Critical Care Medicine and presented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Annual meeting in Puerto Rico.
The Society of Critical Care Medicine is the largest multi-professional organization dedicated to ensuring excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care. The Society represents over 16,000 members in over 100 countries. The study found that the so-called Bathurst USCOM Hemodynamic (BUSH) protocol reduced mortality by 94% and management costs by 45% over the 6 year study period. The study concluded that if the BUSH protocol results were duplicated Australia wide the savings would have been 8,237 lives and $1 billion.
Professor Smith said, “These results demonstrate a potential new gold standard for the management of sepsis and we are now looking to share our experience and improve care in Australia and worldwide.”
Data from septic shock patients treated Australia-wide and in Bathurst between 2007 to 2012 were extracted from the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Centre for Outcomes and Resource Evaluation (CORE) database was analysed for trends in mortality, morbidity, emergency transport costs and cost of hospital stay. The database was established to benchmark clinical standards of practice.
Septic shock, also known as blood poisoning, is a complex medical condition with a patient mortality of 22 to 76 per cent. It is characterized by extreme and variable cardiovascular dysfunction which results in a critical oxygen shortage to the cells and leading ultimately to death. The disease has been increasing in Australia at a rate of 10% per annum for the last 6 years while cancer and heart disease mortality have been falling. Sepsis has been declared a global medical emergency by the Global Sepsis Alliance.
Professor Smith said “The Bathurst USCOM Hemodynamic (BUSH) protocol, was introduced at Bathurst Base Hospital, a rural hospital in Australia, in 2007. The protocol is based on a multidisciplinary approach, immediate diagnosis, rapid administration of antibiotics and personalised cardiovascular resuscitation directed by advanced non-invasive USCOM hemodynamics. Each year we see tragic cases of septicemia unnecessarily claiming Australian lives. Widespread adoption of the BUSH protocol could significantly reduce this risk and save health care costs.”
Professor Smith said, “Since the Bathurst introduction of the BUSH protocol, most sepsis patients were treated in less than 60 minutes, and mortality has fallen to approximately 5.6% per year in those patients treated according to the BUSH protocol. Renal failure was reduced from 74 per cent to 14 per cent, and emergency transport to tertiary referral centres was reduced by 87 per cent, while other hospital costs were reduced by 45%.”
Uscom Chief Executive Officer Rob Phillips said, “We welcome this independent outcomes evidence that demonstrates USCOM is significantly contributing to making sepsis a curable disease. This study demonstrates the contribution USCOM can make to global health economics and provides the clinical and health economic evidence necessary for large national and international health management organizations to adopt the USCOM technology.
“We are committed to creating shareholder value by demonstrating the significant advantages of our world-leading patented Australian platform medical device technology to a range of potential international strategic partners. The cost benefits demonstrated in this study define the commercial opportunities that can be developed in these partnerships.” Mr Phillips said.
The USCOM device has proven applications in paediatrics, emergency and intensive care medicine and anesthesia. It is the clinical gold standard device for management of adult and paediatric sepsis, and for the guidance of fluid therapy, and in heart failure and hypertension.
References:
Smith BE, Phillips RA, Madigan V, West MJ. Decreased Mortality, Morbidity and Emergency Transport in Septic Shock; A New Protocol Based on Advanced Noinvasive Haemodynamics and Early Antibiotics. Crit Care Med 2012; 40(12):1–328. doi: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000424114.76434.7a
About Uscom
Uscom Limited is an Australian medical device company which listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in December 2003. Uscom has developed a Non Invasive Cardiac Output Monitor. The USCOM is a simple, cost-effective and non-invasive device that measures heart function, detects irregularities and guides treatment. The USCOM device has major applications in Paediatrics, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine and Anesthesia, and is a tool of choice for management of adult and paediatric sepsis, and for the guidance of fluid therapy. USCOM has global regulatory approval and the device is currently marketed in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia & New Zealand, China and South East Asia.
For more information contact:
Rob Phillips
Executive Chairman
T: 61 2 9247 4144
E: rob@uscom.com.au
Sarah Prince
Company Secretary
E: secretary@uscom.com.au
About the USCOM Device
USCOM 1A: Hemodynamic Monitor
The USCOM 1A offers real-time, beat-to-beat measurements of 20 parameters of cardiovascular function including cardiac output, stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance with additional parameters such as cardiac power, stroke work and oxygen delivery. The USCOM 1A is unique in being completely non-invasive, validated across a wide range of cardiac outputs in neonates, infants, children and adults, and is soundly patent protected.
