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MAQUET Cardiovascular 's New VASOSHIELD Pressure Controlling Syringe Helps Protect Vessels from Overdistension and Potential Endothelial Damage During Standard Surgical Preparation Steps

MAQUET Cardiovascular LLC announced the launch in the United States of the new VASOSHIELD Pressure Controlling Syringe for use during Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery.  The VASOSHIELD syringe limits internal "flushing" pressure and controls vessel distension when harvested grafts are irrigated in preparation for use in bypass surgery. Avoiding excessive pressure and limiting distension help maintain internal vessel integrity, which has been shown in clinical studies to be an important factor affecting conduit quality and long-term graft success. The new VASOSHIELD syringe will be demonstrated to cardiothoracic surgeons at the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons (AATS) 90th Annual Meeting, which is taking place from May 1-5, 2010 in Toronto, Canada.

"Accurately assessing and controlling pressure in grafts with a standard syringe can be difficult," said Michael J. Mack, M.D., Research Director, THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano. "We look forward to using the VASOSHIELD syringe because we expect it to assist us in the meticulous handling and preservation of vein grafts, which is vitally important to graft patency and positive patient outcomes. In addition, we look forward to gathering the data to help show the clinical benefit this new tool will provide. We believe it will complement the data we will obtain from the OPTION trial."

Dr. Mack is an investigator for the OPTION (Optimal Improvement of Vein Graft Patency Long Term by the Implementation Of Novel Endoscopic Harvesting Techniques) study. This clinical trial is designed to evaluate the equivalence of Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting (EVH) in CABG surgery compared with historical data for open vein harvesting. 

When a vessel is prepared for use as a bypass graft it is frequently distended with a standard syringe to flush and check for leaks. If flushing pressure inside the vessel is not controlled, it has been observed to reach as high as 600 mm Hg, inadvertently damaging the internal vessel surface. By limiting the maximum pressure that can be applied during graft distension, this type of injury may be prevented, thereby improving the overall quality and patency of the graft long term. 

The VASOSHIELD Syringe allows the user to select one of three settings -- 150, 250 or 350 mm Hg – so that flushing pressure is adjusted in pre-set increments and uninterrupted flow is delivered during vein preparation.  It has been clinically shown that vessels flushed at controlled, lower pressures more effectively overcome spasm, maintain their endothelial and medial layers, and are more likely to provide a high-quality conduit for bypass surgery.

The VASOSHIELD Pressure Controlling Syringe is part of the VASOVIEW family of products from MAQUET Cardiovascular, which include a range of EVH technology options to perform minimally invasive vessel harvesting procedures.
 
"As a leader in the field, MAQUET continues to advance cardiac bypass surgery techniques by investing in technologies that help improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life," said Patrick Walsh, President of the Cardiac Surgery Business Unit at MAQUET Cardiovascular.  "The new VASOSHIELD syringe is yet another example of our commitment to supporting physicians with tools that optimize graft quality and improve standards of care."

Source: MAQUET Cardiovascular