World's First DIVA System Provides Better Blood Pressure Management During C-Section

SINGAPORE, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- New trial results have shown that the world’s first Double Intravenous Vasopressor Automated (DIVA) System affords superior control of maternal blood pressure in women undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. This is when compared with manually-administered medication to manage reduced blood pressure (vasopressor). Reduced blood pressure can cause nausea in the mother, and in severe cases, result in reduced blood flow to a baby unless medical intervention is provided. Developed by doctors at KK Women's and Children’s Hospital (KKH), the novel DIVA System detects and responds rapidly to low blood pressure or slow heart rate in real time by auto-administering a precise amount of the recommended vasopressor. The system uses an advanced decision algorithm to help enhance patient safety. Putting the DIVA System to the test, the KKH team conducted a randomised controlled double blinded trial involving 213 healthy women between the ages of 21 and 45, with singleton full-term pregnancies. The women underwent elective caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia. The system was enhanced with a more responsive vasopressor delivery algorithm, enabling swifter intervention to manage changes in maternal blood pressure. The trial results reinforce findings from a 2011 preliminary study jointly carried out by KKH and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS GMS) on 55 women aged between 21 and 45. Findings showed the DIVA System as clinically more effective in maintaining blood pressure during caesarean sections under spinal anaesthesia than traditional physician administered techniques using conventional blood pressure monitoring. DIVA System’s enhanced speed and accuracy delivers a safer and better birth experience for patients. The study was approved by the SingHealth Centralised Institutional Review Board and funded by a National Medical Research Council Exploratory Development Grant. The KKH team has been awarded a SingHealth Foundation Grant to further enhance the system. -- BERNAMA