Teleflex Incorporated will showcase a number of anesthesia products designed to help providers minimize risk and maximize outcomes for their patients at the 64th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesia (PGA) of The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel on December 10-14, 2010. These products include:

- Arrow(R) StimuCath(R) Safety Kits: StimuCath Safety Kits are designed to help facilities be more compliant with OSHA and JCAHO guidelines by including Sharps SafetyGlide(R) injection needles, locking Sharps Away II(TM) cup and medication labels combined with StimuCath, the #1 selling stimulating peripheral nerve block catheter in North America. StimuCath's wire-coil helix allows for accurate placement of block using stimulation and/or ultrasound. This unique catheter aids in improving block success by allowing physicians to confirm catheter location before, during and after placement.

- Arrow FlexTip Plus(R) Epidural Catheter: With its unique wire-embedded polyurethane design, the FlexTip Plus is the only epidural catheter clinically proven to minimize the risk of intravascular cannulation1,2,3 and effectively reduce transient paresthesia.4

- Arrow SureBlock(TM) Spinal Anesthesia Trays: Safety-engineered in compliance with the latest guidelines from OSHA and JCAHO, SureBlock trays feature the Sprotte(R) Spinal Needle. The Sprotte Spinal Needle, with its special polished finish, has been clinically proven to significantly reduce postdural puncture headaches.5, 6, 7, 8

Educational Opportunities

Teleflex is dedicated to supporting physicians and advancing the practice of regional anesthesia through its clinical education program. At the PGA meeting on Friday, December 10, 2010 from 5:30- 8:00pm at the Marriott Marquis- Empire Complex, 7th Floor, Teleflex will host up to 150 physicians at a Corporate non-CME Educational Update Dinner Symposium: "Peripheral Nerve Blocks in Surgery--Improving Patient Outcomes". The speaker for this program is Dr. Krishna Boddu, MBBS, MD, DNB, FANZCA. Dr. Boddu is the Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Director- Division of Orthopaedic Anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship Program and Director, Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain Medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston & Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Additionally, Teleflex has partnered with several facilities throughout the United States to allow physicians to observe all aspects of establishing and running peripheral nerve block and acute pain management programs. Teleflex also sponsors a Pain Management Center of Excellence, which allows physicians to gain hands-on peripheral nerve block training at a world-class teaching institution.

All of these educational programs provide training on Teleflex's Arrow brand of regional anesthesia products.

"We look forward to presenting and meeting customers at the PGA as we build on our efforts to support physicians with products and education to address the concerns anesthesiologists face daily," said Cary Vance, Executive Vice President, Teleflex, North America. "Teleflex is pleased to continue to work with the anesthesia industry as a trusted resource and partner."

1. Mhyre, Jill M., et al. A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials That Evaluate Strategies to Avoid Epidural Vein Cannulation During Obstetric Epidural Catheter Placement. Anesthesia & Analgesia 2009; 108 (4): 1232-1242.

2. Banwell B.R., et al. Decreased incidence of complications in patients with the Arrow (FlexTip Plus(TM)) epidural catheter. Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia 1998; 45 (4): 370-372.

3. Cohen S., et al. Sutured Epidural Catheter for Epidural Block in obstetric Patients: "Arrow" versus "B. Braun". Anesthesiology 2006;105: A904.

4. Cohen S., et al. Arrow versus B. Braun Epidural Catheter for Epidural Block in Obstetric Patients. Anesthesiology 2004; 101: A1199.

5. Toyka KV, Müller B, Reichmann H, Strupp M, Schüler O, Brandt T. "Atraumatic" Sprotte needle reduces the incidence of post-lumbar puncture headaches. Neurology 2002; 59: 1120-21.

6. Pittoni G, Toffoletto F, Calcarella G, Zanette G, Giron GP. Spinal anesthesia in outpatient knee surgery: 22-gauge versus 25-gauge Sprotte needle. Anesth. Analg. 1995; 81: 73-9.

7. Pajunk Sprotte cannula product brochure

8. Jäger H, Schimrigk K, Haab A. Post lumbar puncture headache prevention by means of an atraumatic needle. Akt Neurol. 1991; 18:61-4.

Source:
Teleflex Incorporated