Terumo Showcases Radial Access Portfolio at American College of Cardiology Conference

SOMERSET, N.J., March 17, 2017

While the femoral artery in the groin had historically been the standard entry point for most cardiac catheterizations performed in the U.S., adoption of the transradial approach has increased exponentially because it is associated with better patient outcomes and reduction in bleeding complications.  The MATRIX Study, which was presented at the ACC meeting in 2015, compared transradial with transfemoral approaches in 8,404 patients undergoing stenting for treatment of acute coronary syndrome.  The study, which was sponsored by Terumo, found that radial, as compared to femoral access, reduced net adverse clinical events through a reduction in bleeding and all-cause mortality. 

"The MATRIX study appears to have served as a pivot point for the U.S. interventional community to adopt radial access," said Chris Pearson, Senior VP of Marketing, Terumo Interventional Systems.  "After that, we saw greater demand for our innovative education and training programs Terumo has pioneered in this area.  We're proud of the work we have done in partnership with the medical community to drive utilization of the radial approach.  We look forward to continuing to work together to make radial the preferred approach, especially for sicker patients, which as the MATRIX study showed could benefit greatly."

Adopting radial access can help hospitals to reduce costs by moving patients out of the catheterization laboratory faster and reducing complications and readmissions.  When a transradial approach is used, a significant number of elective PCI patients may be considered for same day discharge from the hospital.  In 2006, Terumo became the first company in the U.S. to offer training and educational programs for radial access.  Today, Terumo uses its deep understanding of the clinical, practical and economic benefits of the technique to help physicians and hospitals achieve success.  More information is available at http://www.terumois.com/procedural-solutions/about-access.html. The Terumo exhibit at ACC will present the company's comprehensive portfolio of sheaths, catheters, and closure devices specifically engineered for radial access, including:

• GLIDESHEATH^® SLENDER Hydrophilic Coated Introducer Sheath intended for smooth atraumatic radial access to minimize the risk of scarring and damage.
• TR Band^® Compression Device designed to assist hemostasis of the radial artery after a transradial procedure.
• GLIDEWIRE^® Hydrophilic Coated Guidewire with a proprietary design for smooth, rapid movement through tortuous vessels and crossability over difficult lesions.  
• Optitorque^® Diagnostic Catheters with radial specific curves designed to enable support and alignment during catheterization.
• HEARTRAIL^® Coronary Guiding Catheters designed to use contralateral wall resulting in enhanced back-up support in comparison to standard femoral guiding catheter shapes.

About Terumo Interventional Systems
Terumo Interventional Systems (TIS), a division of Terumo Medical Corporation, is a market leader in minimally invasive entry site management and lesion access technologies.  TIS offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions – from access to closure – that deliver clinical value, economic benefit and enhanced patient outcomes regardless of the site that is used to access the vascular system.  TIS combines innovative research and development with a deep market understanding to create a pipeline of industry leading devices that are used in advanced coronary, peripheral endovascular and urological treatments.  The complete TIS product portfolio includes guidewires, catheters, sheaths, peripheral stents, embolics, and closure devices for both transfemoral and transradial approaches.   For more information, visit www.terumois.com

About Terumo Business Edge
Terumo Business Edge, a business unit of Terumo Medical Corporation, is a consulting group with specific expertise and experience in helping identify operational and administrative process improvements in the Cardiac Cath Lab.  Leveraging the clinical and care pathway advantages of transradial and same day discharge, Terumo Business Edge is helping cath labs define new, more cost-effective care pathways.  For more information, visit www.terumobusinessedge.com.