The Memo: Centese Redefining Recovery After Cardiothoracic Surgery

Under the direction of Co-Founder and CEO Evan Luxon and CBO Randy Preston, Centese is redefining patient recovery following cardiac and thoracic surgery. These procedures are used to treat some of the world’s most severe diseases, including cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. By innovating in a long-overlooked part of post-operative care, the company’s FDA-cleared Thoraguard^Ⓡ system is already accelerating recovery, reducing complications, and reshaping expectations for recovery from surgery. 

Origin Story

Centese began with a simple but powerful question: could an early-stage technology be repurposed to solve a bigger problem in post-surgical recovery?

“The initial idea stemmed from another project I was working on, an advanced urine output monitoring system,” said Luxon. “We had cardiac surgeons ask if we could create something similar to more effectively remove fluid around the heart. That was the spark.”

Luxon, an engineer by training, joined forces with Preston, who was introduced through TheraNova founder Dan Burnett, MD. Together, they spent nights and weekends building early prototypes, talking to surgeons, reviewing medical research, and validating the clinical and market need. A National Science Foundation SBIR grant supported their early work, and non-dilutive state funding helped move the project forward when Luxon returned home to Omaha, NE.

“There was a technology we saw working in one clinical application that could be applied to another with a potentially larger impact,” said Preston. “What really drove us was the feedback from cardiac and thoracic surgeons. The need was clear, and the opportunity was massive.”

The Current Landscape

Today, Thoraguard is used in over 40 hospitals across the United States and growing. That includes world-class institutions like NYU Langone, Stanford Health Care, Emory University, and the Mayo Clinic. These are paying customers using Thoraguard daily to achieve some of the best outcomes in the world in cardiac and thoracic surgery.

“We have physicians publishing studies showing outcomes far exceeding even our own expectations,” said Preston. “That’s a testament to how much it’s impacting their workflow and patient outcomes.”

Centese is targeting a market of approximately one million cardiothoracic procedures annually in the United States, with even greater opportunity globally. With high-volume conditions like cardiovascular disease and lung cancer driving demand, the company is building momentum to meet increasing clinical and commercial interest.

“One in three patients who undergo open-heart surgery develops post-operative atrial fibrillation (AFib). Our data show that we can reduce that incidence by as much as 40%,” said Luxon. “And for lung cancer surgery, our top centers are sending patients home in under 24 hours. When Randy and I started working in this field, the average length of stay for these patients was five days.”

Inside the Innovation

Thoraguard is a smart, digital fluid drainage system that replaces outdated plastic canisters, large rigid tubes, and in-wall suction that have remained largely unchanged for the past 75 to 80 years.

“After surgery, the chest needs to be drained of blood, air, and other fluids,” said Luxon. “That drainage is essential for recovery, and the information around it is critical for  clinicians to make decisions about recovery and discharge.”

Centese’s system uses smaller, softer drains that reduce patient pain and optimize the removal of shed blood. It also captures precise, time-stamped data on fluid flow and volume, which can help providers detect complications earlier and move patients to lower-acuity settings more confidently.

“Our data has shown that, compared to standard of care, patients experience significantly fewer complications, including life-threatening conditions like post-op AFib, and have shorter length of stay,” said Luxon. “If a complication occurs during recovery, the system detects it faster, which can save lives.”

Progress and Milestones

Centese is rapidly scaling. The company has treated nearly 15,000 patients to date and is continuing to grow its hospital base. The results speak for themselves: reduced costs, faster discharges, and passionate feedback from top-tier clinicians.

“Getting patients home sooner is one of the most impactful things you can do to improve healthcare economics in the hospital environment,” said Preston. “We’ve seen hospitals take the average stay after lung cancer surgery from five days to under 24 hours. That saves hospitals nearly $15,000 per patient.”

The company is in the middle of a $6.5 million funding round, having already closed the first $3.5 million. The new capital will support a controlled commercial scale-up in the United States while preparing for regulatory expansion in Europe.

As the team prepares to present at LSI USA ‘26, their focus remains clear. With a lean business model, real-world traction, and strong clinical data, Centese is setting a new standard for recovery after heart and lung surgery.

The LSI Effect

For Luxon and Preston, the LSI network has played a key role in supporting Centese’s journey.

“LSI is great. It’s a reunion of sorts every year, seeing a lot of familiar faces and catching up with people we can count on being there,” said Luxon. “But there’s always something new, too. Last year, there were a lot of great insights shared during the Moonlight Chats. There’s always something different that keeps it interesting.”

Beyond networking, Preston sees the event as an anchor point for the medtech community.

“Medtech startups are really hard. It’s a long road to success,” he said. “But LSI has become kind of the center of the ecosystem. It’s one of the few places where you can swap war stories, get feedback, and connect with people who understand the unique challenges we face. It’s a chance to build something together.”

Join Us at LSI USA ‘26

Luxon and Preston have been selected to present at LSI USA ‘26 next March 16–20 in front of hundreds of global medical technology companies. Join us in welcoming Luxon and Preston to the event in Dana Point, CA, where they will share the latest updates on Centese’s technology and development.