Evidence-based improvements in clinical practice
Medela undertakes substantial investment in research and clinical studies. The extensive
knowledge this creates is utilized to develop progressive solutions that optimize medical treatments, improve quality of life for patients, and reduce costs to hospitals.
A short summary of the research demonstrates the medical, workload and financial benefits of the Thopaz
system:
Benefits to the Patient
- Allows for earlier chest tube removal 1,2,4,5,6,8
- Reduces duration of hospital stay 1,2,3,4,5,6,8
- Earlier and improved mobility for patient 1,2,3,6,8
- Thopaz scores highest for patient satisfaction 5,7,8
- Thopaz is 75% quieter and reduces sleep disturbance 6,7
- Reduces the incidence of complications 1,7
Benefits to Clinicians
- Digital data empowers junior staff to manage chest tube drains 2,8
- Surgeons are no longer reliant on estimation3 with discrepancy between observers being reduced 6
- Ability to track history of air leak reduces legal risk to Physician 8
- Nursing staff prefer Thopaz due to safety and ease of handling 2,3,5,8
- Thopaz is easy to teach and easy to use 5
- Thopaz has useful alarms 3
- Nurses like the improved fluid handling and infection control 2,5
Benefits to the Hospital
- Thopaz reduces hospital stay 2,5,8 with overall financial benefit for the hospital 2,5
- Thopaz reduces the cost to the hospital 5
- Digital chest drain reduces the cost to the hospital 4
- Thopaz empowers the hospital in the management of chest tubes, unifying hospital practices and simplifying ward rounds 2
Referenzen
1 Cerfolio RJ., Rudemiller K., Bryant AS. (2008) The benefits of continuous and digital air leak assessment after elective pulmonary resection: A prospective study. Annals in Thoracic Surgery. 86: 396-401.
2 Papagiannopoulos K., Kuppusami M, Kefaloyannis EM. The use of Thopaz in the management of air leaks. A transition from analogue to standardised digital scoring. Experience of first 100 cases from a single institution. Presented at ESTS, 2009.
3 Mier JM.Molins M., Fibla JJ. The benefits of digitial air leak assessment after pulmonary resection: Prospective, randomized and comparative study. Presented at ESTS, 2009.
4 Brunelli A., Salati M., Refai M., Di Nunzio L., Xiumè F., Sabbatini A. (2009) Evaluation of a new chest tube protocol using digital air leak monitoring after lobectomy: A prospective randomised trial. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. In Press.
5 Papagiannopoulos K. A transition from analog to digital scoring of air leaks post Thoracic Surgery and provision of standardized management of chest tubes following chest surgery. Presented at ATCSA, 2009.
6 Sihoe ADL. Realizing the Potential of Chest Drains in Clinical and Academic Practice. Presented at ATCSA, 2009.
7 Kim DK. Postoperative Early Ambulation with Thopaz. Presented at ATCSA, 2009.
8 Bryant AS., Cerfolio RJ., Rudemiller K., Hatch NU. In Preparation.