Study evaluates Masimo SpHb's accuracy in monitoring low hemoglobin levels

Masimo announced today that a new study demonstrating the clinical accuracy and value of its noninvasive and continuous hemoglobin (SpHb®) monitoring technology breakthrough was presented this week at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Annual Critical Care Congress in San Diego. The largest multi-professional critical care event of the year, the SCCM Annual Congress reflects the latest in evidence-based research, clinical best practices, and medical developments that are shaping the future of critical care medicine.

The study, presented by researchers at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC) in New Jersey, evaluated the accuracy of Masimo SpHb—a noninvasive measurement of hemoglobin blood levels obtained using a Masimo rainbow® ReSposable Sensor placed on the finger and continuously displayed on a Masimo Radical-7® Pulse CO-Oximeter™.  SpHb measurements obtained from nine intensive care unit (ICU) patients with critically low hemoglobin levels (ranging from 4.3-8.6g/dL for Hb lab values) were compared with invasive blood samples drawn simultaneously and analyzed by a central laboratory.  Results showed a mean bias and precision of 0.70 g/dL and 1.05 g/dL for SpHb, respectively, when compared to reference laboratory hemoglobin values—demonstrating "clinically acceptable agreement."  Researchers concluded that "the ability to measure hemoglobin noninvasively and continuously has the potential to facilitate the timely detection of changes in hemoglobin and thus improve patient blood management decisions in patients with critically low hemoglobin."

According to lead researcher, Anna Juhl, RN, Clinical Research Director of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at EHMC, "Two important elements of Patient Blood Management (PBM) are: 1) managing post-op blood loss with any resulting anemia, and 2) only transfusing based on clinical and lab guided evidence.  The results of this study show that Masimo SpHb may help aid clinicians in achieving the goals of PBM in a timely fashion with less blood loss to the patient."

According to Dr. Michael O'Reilly, Chief Medical Officer at Masimo, "Successfully managing patients with very low hemoglobin levels is often a complex and risky undertaking that most physicians avoid by giving blood transfusions.  However, the growing significance of deleterious transfusion effects and complications are now forcing physicians to re-evaluate transfusion decisions in critically ill patients. This study showcases Masimo SpHb's importance and unique role in aiding the clinical management of patients with very low hemoglobin levels—providing clinicians with a new tool to monitor and manage very low hemoglobin levels more effectively."