Statistically significant reductions in postoperative atrial fibrillation, pain scores, and hospital stay highlight innovation in digital chest drainage and enhanced recovery.
Omaha, NE – [April 27, 2024] – Centese, Inc., a leader in innovation for cardiothoracic surgery, announced the results of a new peer-reviewed clinical study published in JTCVS Open demonstrating that the Thoraguard® Intelligent Chest Tube Management System delivers substantial improvements in patient recovery following cardiac surgery.
In a propensity-matched analysis of 266 patients undergoing non-emergency cardiac surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, use of Thoraguard’s automated line-clearance technology was associated with:
- A 41% reduction in postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) – 18.1% incidence with Thoraguard vs. 30.8% with conventional chest tubes (p=0.02).
- Lower patient pain scores – median pain score of 5 vs. 6 on postoperative day 3 (p=0.02), and 0 vs. 3 at hospital discharge (p=0.04).
- Shorter duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation – 5.3 hours vs. 5.8 hours (p<0.001).
- Reduced length of stay in the overall patient cohort – median 6 days vs. 7 days (p<0.001).
“These findings add to the growing body of evidence that Thoraguard is transforming recovery in cardiac surgery,” said Evan Luxon, CEO of Centese. “By combining automated chest tube clearance with digital monitoring, Thoraguard helps prevent complications like retained blood syndrome, reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation, and improves patient comfort — all without adding burden to clinical teams.”
A Step Forward for Enhanced Recovery and Digital Surgery
The study was conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine and presented at the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery. According to the investigators, Thoraguard’s smaller 20F catheter size may also contribute to improved comfort and reduced pain scores while maintaining effective drainage.
“This is a major step forward for enhanced recovery protocols,” said Randy Preston, CBO of Centese. “Thoraguard delivers on the promise of predictive medicine and digital surgery — smarter devices that actively support the patient’s healing process.”
About Centese
Centese, Inc. develops intelligent postoperative drainage systems that integrate advanced automation and digital monitoring to improve outcomes, reduce complications, and streamline clinical workflows. The company’s flagship product, Thoraguard®, is FDA-cleared and in commercial use across leading cardiac and thoracic surgery centers.
For more information, visit www.centese.com.