EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., March 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHF Solutions (Nasdaq: CHFS), a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from fluid overload, announced the key takeaways from its clinician webinar held yesterday, which stressed the importance of managing fluids administered to critically ill, COVID-19 patients to avoid potentially life-threatening complications.
Because COVID-19 patients are hemodynamically unstable, they need fluid replacement, which puts them at risk for developing volume overload, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and other complications related to progressive congestion.
The medical panel unanimously agreed that fluid stewardship is very important in patients with COVID-19 who become critically ill, and that ultrafiltration is an option for efficient fluid removal and rapid decongestion, and a way to optimize the volume status of these patients in a predictable way.
The physicians described the many benefits that portable ultrafiltration devices, like CHF Systems’ Aquadex SmartFlow™, have over conventional renal replacement therapies, such as ease of use, and the speed with which therapy can be initiated in the ICU. They also cited the low extracorporeal volume (35 mL) for patients with hemodynamic instability, and the low blood flow rate, which is not achievable with conventional dialysis machines.
The webinar panel was moderated by Dr. Amir Kazory, M.D., FASN (University of Florida, Gainesville), with Dr. Maria DeVita, M.D., FACP, FASN (Lenox Hill Hospital, NY, NY) and Dr. Mehdi Oloomi, M.D. (Mount Sinai Medical Center) serving as panelists.
The learning objectives for the webinar were:
- Discuss the World Health Organization (WHO) protocol, published March 13, 2020, and the importance of identifying volume overload in COVID-19-infected patients because the risk of volume overload is very high1
- Understand the risks associated with volume overload, importance of maintaining fluid balance, and benefits of using ultrafiltration in patients with volume overload
- Discuss training and personnel required to quickly implement access to ultrafiltration
- Listen to real-world critical care patient case studies
“We are pleased that the three physician panelists, who are experienced users of ultrafiltration technology in the critical care setting, were able to present a valuable solution for the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients,” said John Erb, CEO of CHF Solutions. "The Aquadex SmartFlow system is designed to address the needs of critical care patients suffering from hypervolemia (volume overload) and we want to ensure that all patients are able to access this therapy.”
An audio replay of the webcast, slides and a transcript are available at http://ir.chf-solutions.com/events.
About CHF Solutions
CHF Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHFS) is a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from fluid overload with its novel ultrafiltration therapy system. The company is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing the Aquadex SmartFlow system for ultrafiltration therapy. CHF Solutions is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., with wholly-owned subsidiaries in Australia and Ireland. The company has been listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market since February 2012.
About the Aquadex SmartFlow System
The Aquadex SmartFlow system delivers clinically proven therapy using a simple, flexible and smart method of removing excess fluid from patients suffering from hypervolemia (fluid overload). The Aquadex SmartFlow system is indicated for temporary (up to 8 hours) or extended (longer than 8 hours in patients who require hospitalization) use in adult and pediatric patients weighing 20 kg or more whose fluid overload is unresponsive to medical management, including diuretics. All treatments must be administered by a health care provider, within an outpatient or inpatient clinical setting, under physician prescription, both having received training in extracorporeal therapies.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation, statements about the clinical use of the Aquadex SmartFlow system in patients infected with COVID-19. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including, without limitation, those risk associated with our ability to execute on our commercial strategy, the possibility that we may be unable to raise sufficient funds necessary for our anticipated operations, our post-market clinical data collection activities, benefits of our products to patients, our expectations with respect to product development and commercialization efforts, our ability to increase market and physician acceptance of our products, potentially competitive product offerings, intellectual property protection, our ability to integrate acquired businesses, our expectations regarding anticipated synergies with and benefits from acquired businesses, and other risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. CHF Solutions does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
1 WHO reference number: WHO/nCoV/Clinical/2020.3
CONTACTS INVESTORS: Claudia Napal Drayton Chief Financial Officer, CHF Solutions, Inc. 952-345-4205 ir@chf-solutions.com MEDIA: Brad Perriello Health+Commerce 617-817-1385 brad@healthandcommerce.com
