Multicenter Study(1) Suggests Hill-Rom MetaNeb® System Reduces Incidence of Post-Operative Pulmonary Complications in High-Risk Patients

CHICAGO, Feb. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of researchers have reported that aggressive treatment after surgery using the Hill-Rom MetaNeb^® System may reduce the incidence of post-operative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in high-risk surgical patients. Part of Hill-Rom's (NYSE: HRC) respiratory care product portfolio, the MetaNeb System combines lung expansion, secretion clearance and aerosol delivery into a single, efficient therapy.

The researchers of the study, which was presented at the 47^th Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Annual Congress, found that the use of the Hill-Rom MetaNeb System may not only result in reduced PPCs, but may also reduce time spent on a ventilator and length of stay in the hospital. Taken together, these reductions also suggest the potential for an overall decrease in hospital expenditures for the treatment of this patient population.

The data were presented today as part of a podium presentation at SCCM by a group of researchers from the Carolinas Health Care System, the University of Pennsylvania, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University.

"The occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications in high-risk surgical patients is associated with increased morbidity and worse outcomes," said Toan Huynh, M.D., director, Trauma Research, Carolinas HealthCare System, who presented at the podium session. "As much as 40 percent¹ of patients may have trouble breathing once a procedure is completed, which is why today's news is such an advance. It's important to identify patients who may be at risk for PPCs, be vigilant while they undergo surgery, and use aggressive pulmonary treatments to reduce the risk of complications and get them back home. We believe these results contribute to best clinical practice in this area."

Researchers compiled data from three institutions and 419 enrolled patients in the study, which was conducted in two separate stages. When comparing one group of patients using the MetaNeb System combined with standard respiratory therapy to a second group using standard respiratory therapy alone, the study found that average hospital length of stay was approximately 1.6 days lower for patients receiving the combined therapies.

"These data represent a potential breakthrough for clinicians and their patients. We already know that PPCs lead to significant health issues and increased length of hospital stay if they are not treated immediately and aggressively," said Carlos A. Urrea, M.D., MPH, vice president, Medical Affairs, Hill-Rom. "We are very pleased to see these results, which support the use of the MetaNeb System as part of an overall prevention strategy to reduce complications and lower associated costs per patient."

The researchers concluded that the use of the Hill-Rom MetaNeb System combined with standard respiratory therapy could play a significant role in reducing the cost of care for this patient population by as much as an estimated $10,000¹ per patient. Currently, the average estimated cost per patient associated with PPCs is approximately $62,704². 

About Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.
Hill-Rom is a leading global medical technology company whose products, services and more than 10,000 employees worldwide help people get better care inside and outside the hospital. Our innovations in five core areas ? Advancing Mobility, Wound Care and Prevention, Patient Monitoring and Diagnostics, Surgical Safety and Efficiency, and Respiratory Health ? improve clinical and economic outcomes and ensure caregivers in more than 100 countries have the products they need to protect their patients, speed up recoveries and manage conditions. Every day, around the world, we enhance outcomes for patients and their caregivers. Learn more at hill-rom.com.

¹ Toan Huynh, MD, FACS, FCCM; Maurizio Cereda, MD; Gregory B. Diette, MD, MHS; Timothy Liesching, MD, FCCP. "Treatment with MetaNeb® Therapy Reduces Postoperative Pulmonary Complications: A Multicenter Trial" SCCM, (2018)

² Restrepo R, et al. "Current challenges in the recognition, prevention and treatment of perioperative pulmonary atelectasis." Expert Rev. Respir. Med. 9(1), 97?107 (2015).

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