Masimo Reports Encouraging PVI Study Results - Analyst Blog

Masimo Corporation MASI recently announced the results of a study which demonstrated that the company's non-invasive Pleth Variability Index PVI parameter helps clinicians optimize fluid administration for abdominal surgical patients under combined general and epidural anesthesia (GEN-EPI).

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Monitoring and Computing as well. Following the announcement, shares of MASI rose 0.9% in the subsequent trading sessions to close at $26.92 yesterday.

GEN-EPI reduces the risk of respiratory complications and duration of stay in hospitals but requires proper fluid management. Multiple dynamic parameters are available to help clinicians predict fluid responsiveness and improve fluid management. However, most of these parameters require invasive and/or complex methods.

In contrast, MASI's PVI parameter is non-invasive and can be obtained with any Masimo SET or rainbow sensor. PVI helps clinicians to continuously assess the fluid status of patients in order to examine whether patients will benefit from fluid administration, thus enabling personalized and goal-directed fluid therapy.

The study was conducted at Shanghai First People's Hospital in Shanghai, China, to assess the impact of PVI as a goal-directed fluid parameter. It enrolled 30 patients who underwent elective abdominal surgery under GEN-EPI.

Investigators used a Masimo Radical-7 rainbow SET Pulse CO-Oximeter, which automatically calculated and displayed PVI. The total average amount of fluid infused in PVI-guided fluid therapy group was significantly lower than the amount of fluid in the control group.

Recent research has shown that higher blood lactate levels in the perioperative period are related with postoperative complications and the average hospitalization time. The study concluded that PVI-based goal-directed fluid management in major abdominal surgery patients under GEN-EPI helps in optimizing fluid management by reducing unnecessary fluid administration and blood lactate levels during surgery. It enables clinicians to understand the fluid level of their patients, thus improving patient outcomes.

MASI reported a 19.2% rise in earnings to 31 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2013 which were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues in the quarter (including royalties) increased 7.8% to $142.4 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $145.0 million.

Currently, MASI carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks worth a look in the medical instruments industry are Cynosure, Inc. CYNO, Syneron Medical Ltd. ELOS and Delcath Systems, Inc. DCTH. All the three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).