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Study Finds Use of ResQGARD® Impedance Threshold Device Improves Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Breathing Hypotensive Patients

Seattle, WA - A study presented by Dr. David A. Wampler (The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Department of Emergency Health Sciences, and the San Antonio [TX] Fire Department) at the American College of Emergency Physicians Scientific Assembly in Seattle, Washington on October 15 found that use of the ResQGARD® Impedance Threshold Device (ITD) helped to improve blood pressure in spontaneously breathing patients with hypotension in the prehospital setting.

The 6-month, prospective, pilot study set out to evaluate the efficacy of ITDs in spontaneously breathing hypotensive patients in the prehospital setting. The study assessed the change in vital signs following paramedic administration of an ITD, as well as patient tolerance. The study, which included 200 patients, found that:

  • In all hypotensive patients, mean systolic blood pressure (BP) increased 24% (from 78 to 97 mmHg), mean diastolic BP increased 26% (from 50 to 63 mmHg), with pulse and ventilation rates unchanged.
  • Among a subset of patients who were hypotensive due to trauma (e.g. falls, motor vehicle accidents, shootings, stabbings), mean systolic BP increased 28% (from 80 to 103 mmHg), mean diastolic BP increased 27% (from 56 to 71 mmHg), with pulse and ventilation rates essentially unchanged.
  • Most patients (75%) were able to tolerate the device.

The study included investigators from the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma (San Antonio) and the U. S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) (San Antonio), with funding support from the U. S. Army Combat Casualty Care Research Program. The authors concluded: “The ITD was easily assimilated into the standard bundle of care for the treatment of hypotensive patients. A significant increase in blood pressure was observed in the overall cohort. Importantly for the trauma cohort, the ITD did not restore ‘normal’ blood pressure, but continued to allow for permissive hypotension, and continued to be generally well tolerated.”

The ResQGARD ITD optimizes the relationship between the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems to enhance circulation during states of poor perfusion. Applied to a facemask, the ResQGARD creates a slight amount of therapeutic resistance while the patient inhales. This enhances the vacuum in the chest, which increases blood return to the heart and lowers intracranial pressure, the net result of which is improved vital organ blood flow.

This study further validates the use of technologies that provide Perfusion on DemandTM, such as the ResQGARD® ITD developed by Advanced Circulatory (Minneapolis, MN). Used in spontaneously breathing patients with poor perfusion, the ResQGARD is a non-invasive device that treats low blood pressure in patients who are hypotensive due to shock from a variety of causes (e.g. blood loss, dehydration, sepsis, dialysis, heat shock). The ResQGARD provides therapeutic benefit as soon as a patient begins to breathe through it. Studies have shown that the ResQGARD increases blood pressure during hypotension by up to 30%.1-4 The ResQGARD is FDA 510(k) cleared; CE marked and is patent protected globally.

Advanced Circulatory is the pioneer of a novel perfusion therapy platform called cardio-cerebral flow enhancement, which has far-reaching implications for multiple medical conditions. This non-invasive therapy increases circulation, protecting the heart, brain and other vital organs when blood flow is compromised, giving rescuers, clinicians and caregivers the potential to return patients to a full life after critical medical emergencies. The company’s products are sold in over 25 countries worldwide.

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