®
Thoraguard
​
The First Automated Clog Clearance System for
Cardiac Surgery
"
This next generation of post-operative mediastinal and pleural management will offer significant benefits to both our practice and our patients.
​
"
Jack Boyd, MD -
Clinical Associate Professor; Surgical Director, Advanced Coronary Revascularization Program, Cardiac Surgery, STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Thoraguard in Cardiac Surgery

Automated Line Clearing
First and only automated clog clearance system clears proprietary 20 Fr. chest tube every 5 minutes, with no human manipulation needed

Digital Fluid Measurement
Digitally measures and displays hourly drainage volume and trends to provide objective data for patient monitoring

Self Monitoring
Actively monitors system and alerts care team in the event of abnormal event, such as excess/rapid drainage, line kinks/ disconnection, or other system disruption

Digital Control
Displays data on simple and intuitive touchscreen

Small Bore Chest Tubes
Incorporates soft and flexible small-bore chest tubes for patient comfort
Current Drainage Practice is
Sub-Optimal
36%
of cardiac surgery patients experience clogged chest tubes, increasing the risk of blood build-up
1
19%
of patients are affected by complications from fluid build-up in the chest cavity
2
Sub-Optimal Drainage
​
Complications from fluid build-up in chest cavity lead to:*
Impairs Outcomes
​
5x
higher in-hospital mortality rate
2
13
day increase in hospital length of stay
2
higher postoperative transfusion rate
2
5x
*In patients with retained blood versus those without, based on retrospective analysis of outcomes of 6,909 cardiac surgery patients using conventional chest drains
References
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Karimov JH, Gillinov AM, Schenck L, Cook M, Kosty Sweeney D, Boyle EM, et al. Incidence of chest tube clogging after cardiac surgery: a single-center prospective observational study. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2013;44:1029-36.
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Balzer F, von Heymann C, Boyle EM, Wernecke KD, Grubitzsch H, Sander M. Impact of retained blood requiring reintervention on outcomes after cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016;152(2):595-601
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Engelman DT, Ali WB, Williams JB, et al. Guidelines for perioperative care in cardiac surgery: Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Society recommendations. JAMA Surg. 2019;154(8):755-766. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.1153.