New US clinical guidelines will recommend Senzime's type of technology for patient monitoring
Uppsala, October 27, 2022. Senzime AB (publ) today announced that the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has voted on final approval of clinical guidelines for monitoring and reversal of neuromuscular blockade. This is the first time that ASA will recommend neuromuscular monitoring guidelines, including recommendations against clinical assessment alone, and recommendations for quantitative monitoring (over qualitative assessment) to avoid residual neuromuscular blockade. Importantly, the guidelines also call for identification of opportunities to accelerate the adoption of quantitative monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Senzime’s TetraGraph® is a patient monitoring system fulfilling the new US guidelines, offering increased patient safety and less complications.
ASA is one of the foremost clinical and scientific societies in the world of anesthesia with over 55,000 members. To support healthcare providers with evidence-based recommendations, ASA develops various scientific and clinical guidelines that are published in the scientific journal Anesthesiology. The new guidelines confirm that there is compelling evidence that many patients are awakened prematurely with muscle paralytic drugs remaining in the body, leading to complications and that complications are underestimated.
“This is a great recognition for Senzime and for the millions of patients who annually suffer from critical complications of paralytic drugs. Senzime's TetraGraph system is developed entirely in line with the new US recommendations that are welcomed after other countries, such as United Kingdom, France, and Spain, have introduced similar guidelines. ASA’s new guidelines will give us additional momentum not only in the US, but also serve as a major step forward in improving patient safety worldwide," said Pia Renaudin, CEO of Senzime.
The new guidelines include strong recommendations to monitor patients with an accurate monitor and not rely solely on clinical and subjective judgment. Furthermore, strong recommendations are made to assess patients with a quantitative monitor, i.e., the type of technology Senzime's TetraGraph is based on, and to follow the patient until muscle recovery exceeds a train-of-four ratio (TOFR) of 90%. The guidelines further recommend monitoring neuromuscular activity of the hand muscle (adductor pollicis) and advise against using facial muscles, because such practices may often lead to overdosing of neuromuscular blocking drugs and in underappreciation of significant residual weakness. Senzime's patented TetraSens electrode is developed to monitor the activity of the hand muscles in real-time.
“I am both humbled and thrilled that my 35 year-career of promoting patient safety through quantitative neuromuscular monitoring has been validated by the approval of the guidelines,” said Sorin J. Brull, MD FCARCSI (Hon) Professor Emeritus of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, USA, and the original inventor of Senzime’s TetraGraph system.
In the US, Senzime markets its innovative patient monitoring solutions, including TetraGraph, through its own sales organization. In June 2022, Senzime also signed a strategic license and connectivity agreement with Masimo, a US-headquartered and global leader in patient monitoring solutions.
About TetraGraph®
TetraGraph is a quantitative neuromuscular monitoring system based on the gold standard electromyography (EMG) technology, which provides accurate and versatile monitoring of neuromuscular blockade. The product is designed to monitor physiological data during surgery in patients receiving general anesthesia and muscle relaxation using muscle paralyzing drugs. TetraGraph stimulates the patient's peripheral nerve using the TetraSens disposable sensors and measures, analyzes, and displays hand muscle function in real time. Thanks to its small size and versatile features, the TetraGraph can be used in any type of surgery, anywhere in the hospital environment, and can be connected to external monitors and electronic hospital records.