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Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

A group of UK anaesthetists have designed and tested three prototype low-cost ventilators that could provide vital support during major healthcare emergencies involving large numbers of patients or casualties. The devices, detailed in a paper published online by Anaesthesia, could also be used where resources are limited, such as in developing countries, remote locations or by the military.

27 Jan 2010

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

25 Jan 2010

Partners In Health reports latest developments in Haiti

In spite of the recent aftershocks, which have caused temporary evacuations at medical facilities in some locations, the PIH team reports having gotten 24 operating rooms up and running, providing urgent care 24 hours per day, including 12 at the central University Hospital in Port-au-Prince (HUEH) and seven at four of our medical facilities outside the capital.

23 Jan 2010

New findings suggest trauma patients are insulated from ‘weekend effect’

People who are in car crashes or suffer serious falls, gunshot or knife wounds and other injuries at nights or on weekends do not appear to be affected by the same medical care disparities as patients who suffer heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests and other time-sensitive illnesses during those "off hours," according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

23 Jan 2010

Air pollution is associated with increased cardiac events

Even healthy people exposed to ultrafine particulate pollution associated with traffic and fossil-fuel combustion for just two hours show changes in heart rhythm and evidence of clot formation that may herald the potential for serious cardiac events, according to research from the Environmental Protection Agency.

23 Jan 2010

BMEYE ccNexfin and Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry technology receive CE Mark certification

BMEYE B.V., the innovators of combined noninvasive, beat-to-beat blood pressure and cardiac output monitoring, and Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, jointly announce today CE Mark certification and the European launch of the BMEYE ccNexfin—the first noninvasive cardiovascular monitor with Masimo Rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximetry technology

21 Jan 2010

Fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2009 results announced by Somanetics

Somanetics Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter and year ended November 30, 2009.

21 Jan 2010

SCA begins new initiative to make 'error-free' cardiac surgery a reality

Is it possible for cardiac surgery teams to completely eliminate medical errors? That's the goal of an ambitious project—called the "Flawless Operative Cardiovascular Unified Systems" (FOCUS) initiative—being undertaken by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA).

21 Jan 2010

Light sedation decreases postoperative delirium in elderly patients by 50%

A recent study, published in the January issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, demonstrates that in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair under spinal anesthesia with propofol sedation, the prevalence of delirium can be decreased by 50 percent with light sedation, compared to deep sedation.

20 Jan 2010

LEO Pharma launches psoriasis franchise in the U.S.

Denmark-based LEO Pharma, a global leader in dermatology and critical care, announced its official launch in the U.S. Headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, LEO Pharma U.S. will be one of the largest individual operations in the pharmaceutical company’s network of worldwide affiliates and is expected to contribute significantly to the company revenues in 2010.

20 Jan 2010

IB-Salut implements Picis' CareSuite high-acuity solutions at Hospital Can Misses

Picis today announced that IB-Salut regional health services in the Spanish Balearic Islands implemented Picis Critical Care Manager and PACU Manager, part of the CareSuite® family of high-acuity solutions, at Hospital Can Misses in Ibiza. In addition, they have extended the software solution at Hospital Comarcal d’Inca and Hospital General Mateu Orfila to include the recovery care areas.

19 Jan 2010

Lighter sedation during spinal anesthesia reduces postoperative delirium in elderly patients

19 Jan 2010

Randomised trial shows fish oil is associated with improved clinical outcomes in septic patients

A randomised controlled trial of fish oil given intravenously to patients in intensive care has found that it improves gas exchange, reduces inflammatory chemicals and results in a shorter length of hospital stay. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care investigated the effects of including fish oil in the normal nutrient solution for patients with sepsis, finding a significant series of benefits.

19 Jan 2010

Decline in hospital mortality rate linked to participation in Sepsis Campaign

A reduction in hospital mortality from severe sepsis and septic shock was associated with participation in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign performance improvement initiative, according to an article published simultaneously in the February issues of Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine and posted ahead of print at www.ccmjournal.com.

18 Jan 2010

OSA adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) adversely affects glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago.

18 Jan 2010

NIH, D.C. Department of Health partner to decrease the rate of new HIV infections

Officials from the National Institutes of Health and the city of Washington, D.C. today announced the new D.C. Partnership for HIV/AIDS Progress, a collaborative research initiative between NIH and the D.C. Department of Health designed to decrease the rate of new HIV infections in the city, improve the health of district residents living with HIV infection, and strengthen the city's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

13 Jan 2010

Positive results from Asthmatx's AIR2 Trial published in AJRCCM

Asthmatx Inc., developer of bronchial thermoplasty with the Alair® System, announced today the publication of positive results from its pivotal study, the Asthma Intervention Research 2 (AIR2) Trial, in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM).

13 Jan 2010

Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust implements Picis software solutions

Picis today announced that Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey, England has successfully implemented Picis integrated surgical, anesthesia, recovery room and critical care software solutions.

12 Jan 2010

Cardene I.V. more effective than intravenous labetalol for BP management in acute stroke patients

EKR Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company commercializing acute-care hospital products, today said that interim study data1 demonstrate that Cardene® I.V. (nicardipine hydrochloride) is significantly more effective than intravenous labetalol for the management of blood pressure (BP) in stroke patients.

12 Jan 2010

QIAGEN N.V. announces acquisition of ESE GmbH for $19 million

QIAGEN N.V. today announced that it has acquired ESE GmbH, a privately held developer and manufacturer of UV and fluorescence optical measurement devices. ESE is based in Stockach, Germany. The transaction is valued at up to US$19 million in cash.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 12 Jan 2010