LONDON, November 19 /PRNewswire/ --

With issues around patient comfort gaining momentum, hospitals and healthcare decision makers are recognising the need to consider patients' relief and welfare. This is leading to a growing demand for patient temperature management systems, which are being used for a greater number of patients and not just the aged and weak.

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New analysis from Frost Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com), European Patient Temperature Management Systems, finds that the market earned revenues of $366.0 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach $999.0 million in 2014.

Heightened awareness about the numerous benefits of patient temperature management systems in surgical settings is aiding their increased uptake, notes Frost Sullivan Industry Analyst Radha Sawhny. The increasing proof of the long-term health benefits and reduced risks of contracting disease and infection in an operating environment they offer are the strong reasons for the demand.

Some patient temperature management systems are more established, their merits better known and, hence, their adoption rates higher than others. However, one of the biggest challenges in the European patient temperature management systems market relates to the lack of information about the varied merits of the systems on offer.

The market has two categories of products. The first are those aimed at therapeutic hypothermia and the reduction of fever with the use of surface and invasive warming and cooling devices. The second category includes those that maintain normothermia (normal body temperature) in patients exposed to the surgical environment and due for a surgical procedure. These therapies include convective warming and blood and fluid warming systems.

The challenge lies in promoting the uptake of both product types, remarks Sawhny. While the merits of induced hypothermia are well understood in some clinical situations, convincing the medical community that normothermia management in all surgical patients is beneficial continues to face stiff resistance. Cost-conscious countries in Europe are particularly hesitant to adopt these devices on a larger scale, as market awareness is relatively low.

Even though hospital staff and healthcare workers are realising the significance of implementing these therapies, the reluctance to use them widely due to the cost is impeding market expansion. Therefore, hospital administrators (who are severely constrained by tight budgetary controls) need to be convinced of the long-term cost benefits of applying these therapies in terms of their reducing patient recovery times and duration of hospital stay.

Manufacturers of different temperature management systems need to develop focused information dissemination strategies aimed at highlighting the specific merits of these therapies, opines Sawhny. Creating a presence in both types of therapies as well as investing in product development with an emphasis on less bulky, less noisy and easy-to-use products within the operating room environment will be crucial to advance market prospects.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users and other industry participants with an overview of the European patient temperature management systems market, then send an e-mail to Patrick Cairns, Corporate Communications, at pcairns_pr@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

European Patient Temperature Management Systems Market is part of the Medical Devices Growth Partnership Services programme, which also includes research in the following markets: cardiovascular, wound care, surgical, orthopaedic and others. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership(TM) empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost Sullivan's Growth Partnership Services, visit http://www.frost.com.

European Patient Temperature Management Systems M286 Contact: Patrick Cairns Corporate Communications P: +27-18-468-2315 E: patrick.cairns@frost.com http://www.frost.com

Patrick Cairns, Frost Sullivan Corporate Communications, +27-18-468-2315, patrick.cairns@frost.com; Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO