Magle Chemoswed

Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a common and potentially life-threatening complication that can emerge due to leaking pancreatic fluid after pancreatic surgery. SmartPAN® acts as an intraoperative indicator of leakage by providing an immediate and accurate color indication when in contact with the pancreatic fluid, guiding the surgeon to perform additional targeted closure. The product offers a completely new, simple approach to preventing pancreatic leaks to benefit patient outcomes.

The post-market clinical follow-up study was conducted at the University Hospital of Heidelberg and led by Prof. Hackert and Dr. Med. Pausch, with the aim to verify the feasibility and safety of intraoperative visualization of pancreatic leakage by indicator application1. If left undetected pancreatic fluid leakage can lead to significant postoperative complications, such as POPF. The study enrolled 30 patients.

The study results confirm the usability and safety of SmartPAN® when used as an indicator of pancreatic leakage in clinical setting of pancreatic surgery. Clinical usability evaluations showed high satisfaction with the device and that most surgeons would like to use the product again outside the study. No complications connected to SmartPAN applications were found. No traces of the indicator dye were detected in central venous fluid and initial minor concentrations in the abdominal fluid were eliminated within two days after surgery.

“The translational development of this novel surgical pancreatic leakage indicator 
will enable prediction and targeted reduction of postoperative pancreatic fistula 
to improve the success of pancreatic surgery in the future, “says the study‘s lead investigator, Dr. med Pausch, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg.

Pancreatic operations are an important and growing field of surgery worldwide and are used to treat both benign and malignant conditions of the pancreas2. A leading cause of pancreatic surgeries is pancreatic cancer which more than doubled between 1990 to 20173 and continues to accelerate as the population ages and the prevalence of obesity and diabetes, increases.

“The positive data from the clinical follow-up study will serve as an important base for our stepwise efforts to establish SmartPAN in the market. The results show the immense potential of this first-in-class product and our technology and will support reimbursement applications in Europe and could also facilitate marketing approvals in other parts of the world,” says Justin Pierce, CEO of Magle Group.

About SmartPAN
SmartPAN® is a patented first-in-class medical device developed jointly with the University of Heidelberg and Magle Group. SmartPAN® is based on Magle Group’s patented bio-compatible and bio-degradable microsphere technology (DSM). The product is approved for medical use in Europe since 2021. A PMCF study is aimed at keeping up to date on the safety and efficacy of a medical device approved in the EU.

References
1. Thomas Pausch et al. SmartPAN® indicator proofs usability and safety of pancreatic leakage visualization after partial pancreatectomy in an IDEAL Stage I clinical trial. Abstract ID 773, 140th German Surgery Congress, 26-28th April in Munich.

2. AminiN et al. Trends in Hospital Volume and Failure to Rescue for Pancreatic Surgery.Journal of gastrointestinal surgery: official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. 2015;19(9):1581-92.

3. GBD 2017 Pancreatic Cancer Collaborators. The global, regional, and national burden of pancreatic cancer and its attributable risk factors in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Dec;4(12):934-947.