Benzinga | Jul 14, 2020 08:04AM EDT

CHF Solutions Highlights Physician-Led Webinar Series With Focus On Treatment Of Fluid Overload In Pediatric Patients

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., July 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CHF Solutions (NASDAQ:CHFS), a medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from fluid overload, today announced key takeaways from a recent webinar where David Askenazi, M.D. MSPH shared his experience and perspectives on the treatment of fluid overload in pediatric patients weighing more than 20 kg.

Dr. Askenazi is the Director of the Pediatric and Infant Center for Acute Nephrology (PICAN) at Children's of Alabama, the pediatric hospital affiliated with University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Askenazi is a forerunner in pediatric kidney support therapy and author of dozens of clinical papers on managing fluid balance and providing kidney support in pediatric patients. He has created and hosts the Neonatal and Infant Course on Kidney Support (NICKS) at Children's of Alabama.

Clinically important observations made by Dr. Askenazi during the webinar include:

* In pediatric patients, fluid overload is a common problem impacting morbidity and mortality, and fluid overload is associated with multiple conditions, such as heart surgery, nephrotic syndrome, congenital heart disease, kidney disease, solid organ and bone marrow transplants, sepsis and severe burns.

* Addressing fluid overload and initiating treatment early optimizes outcomes in pediatric patients; therefore, fluid volume should be reported and monitored as a critical vital sign, similar to other vital signs.

* To assess fluid overload, fluid volume status should be considered in light of the phases of therapy: rescue, optimization, stabilization and de-escalation.

* Treatment options for fluid overload include medical management, fluid restriction and diuretics and ultrafiltration (aquapheresis).

* While a majority of ICU patients receive diuretics to treat fluid overload, multiple studies have shown limited direct improvement in clinical outcomes.1

* Ultrafiltration provides an early alternative therapy to be considered when medical management fails to achieve fluid balance. Repeating traditional therapies may harm the patient.

* Alternative fluid removal therapies include peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), intermittent hemodialysis and ultrafiltration. Each therapy has advantages depending on the condition and treatment goals for the patient.

* Ultrafiltration with the Aquadex system is simple, easy to set up and provides flexibility to address the needs of the patient.

* In a retrospective, multi-center study, 32 critically ill pediatric patients weighing over 20 kgs and predominantly suffering from hypervolemia were treated with the Aquadex FlexFlow System and 97% (31/32) survived to the end of therapy with minimal complications associated with the system.2

"Ultrafiltration is a safe and effective therapy for removing fluid in pediatric patients weighing more than 20 kg," said Dr. Askenazi. "The therapy is a helpful and complementary fluid management tool offering high benefits at a low risk for patients. Pediatric patients can be very delicate and having a gentle and flexible option on hand can improve the quality of care provided to fluid overloaded children."

"Since the FDA clearance of the Aquadex SmartFlow for eligible pediatric patients, pediatric hospitals across the country have recognized the benefit of utilizing gentle ultrafiltration in these patients," said John Erb, CEO of CHF Solutions. "Physicians like Dr. Askenazi are leading the way in creating awareness of life-saving therapies for the treatment of fluid overload in our most fragile patients, and we'll continue to support educational opportunities that can have a positive impact on patient outcomes."

The replay of the webinar is available at https://ir.chf-solutions.com/events and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMIF5x5qqvY