EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     CONTACT:   CARL G. ANDERSON, JR.   FREDERICK J. HIRT
NOVEMBER 1, 2004                              610-478-3171        610-478-3117

ARROW INTERNATIONAL, INC. ANNOUNCES
RETIREMENT OF PRESIDENT AND COO PHILIP B. FLECK,
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES AND VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM

READING, PA, November 1, 2004 - Arrow International, Inc. announced today the
promotion of several executives to positions of new responsibility and the
retirement of Philip B. Fleck, Arrow's President and Chief Operating Officer,
effective December 31, 2004. Mr. Fleck, 60, has a total of 33 years of service
to Arrow and its predecessor company and has been a major force in Arrow's
growth and product development. During his tenure, Mr. Fleck also served as
Engineering Manager and Vice President of Research and Manufacturing. He led the
development and manufacturing efforts for many of the products Arrow produces
and sells today. Mr. Fleck will continue to be involved with Arrow as a
consultant, allowing the Company to continue to benefit from his depth of
knowledge and experience. The Company has no current plans to fill the Chief
Operating Officer position.

With the pending retirement of Mr. Fleck, and following the board of directors
meeting on October 27, 2004, Carl G. Anderson, Jr., Arrow's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, announced the following additional organizational changes and
executive promotions:

"Frederick J. Hirt has been promoted to Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief
Financial Officer and will continue as a member of the Management Executive
Committee. Mr. Hirt has done an outstanding job leading the Finance and IT
organization and overseeing Arrow's adoption of new financial disclosure and
reporting regulations." Mr. Hirt joined Arrow in August 1998 as Vice
President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

"Carl W. Staples has been promoted to Senior Vice President-Human Resources and
will continue as a member of the Management Executive Committee. Since joining
Arrow, Mr. Staples has been the head of Human Resources. Today, this
organization plays a key role in helping Arrow recruit and develop the talent to
meet the needs of Arrow's growing base of global customers. He has been a
valuable coach and mentor for the senior executives of the Company." Mr. Staples
has served as Vice President-Human Resources since September 2002.

"Philip M. Croxford has been promoted to Group Vice President-Critical Care and
Cardiac Assist with responsibility for all Domestic Sales, Global Marketing, and
Research and Development functions. He will become a member of the Management
Executive Committee. Since joining Arrow in 2003, Mr. Croxford has demonstrated
a comprehensive understanding of the business, and its technical, medical and
customer needs. He has provided strong, decisive leadership to his organization
and the overall company." Mr. Croxford joined Arrow in August 2003 as Vice
President, Sales & Global Marketing, Critical Care and most recently served as
Vice President and General Manager.

"James T. Hatlan has been promoted to Senior Vice President-Manufacturing with
responsibility for all Arrow manufacturing facilities, together with Planning,
Purchasing, Logistics and Manufacturing Development. He will become a member of
the Management Executive Committee. Since joining Arrow in September 2003, Mr.
Hatlan has served as Vice President-Strategic Planning and has been a leader in
the development of a manufacturing strategy designed to guide the Company's
future growth."

Mr. Anderson added, "We wish Phil the best in his retirement and appreciate his
willingness to continue to share his knowledge and experience with Arrow as a
consultant. As our recent executive promotions show, Arrow is fortunate to have
such a high caliber management team in place to lead Arrow's product development
and sales efforts and ensure we continue to meet the demands of and deliver
products to our increasingly global and growing customer base."

Arrow's board of directors also approved a voluntary early retirement program
for all salaried exempt and non-exempt employees in its three Reading, PA
locations who are age 57 and above and who will have at least five years of
vesting service or more as of January 31, 2005. The Company presently
anticipates the cost of this program to be between $3 million to $4 million
which will be included in restructuring charges over the next two quarters as
elections under this program are received.

Arrow International, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of
clinically advanced, disposable catheters and related products for critical and
cardiac care. The Company's products are used primarily by anesthesiologists,
critical care



specialists, surgeons, emergency and trauma physicians, cardiologists,
interventional radiologists, electrophysiologists, and other health care
providers.

Arrow International's news releases and other company information can be found
on the World Wide Web at http://www.arrowintl.com.

The Company's common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market(R) under the symbol
ARRO.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: This news release provides historical information and includes
forward-looking statements (including projections). Although the Company
believes that the expectations in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove
to have been correct. The forward-looking statements are based upon a number of
assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity and
considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies which
are beyond the control of the Company, and upon assumptions with respect to
future business decisions which are subject to change. Accordingly, the
forward-looking statements are only an estimate, and actual results will vary
from the forward-looking statements, and these variations may be material.
Consequently, the inclusion of the forward-looking statements should not be
regarded as a representation by the Company of results that actually will be
achieved. Forward-looking statements are necessarily speculative in nature, and
it is usually the case that one or more of the assumptions in the
forward-looking statements do not materialize. Investors are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. In connection with the
"Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, the Company cautions the reader that, among others, the factors below,
which are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended August 31, 2003 and in its other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, could cause the Company's results to differ materially from
those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include: (i)
stringent regulation of the Company's products by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and, in some jurisdictions, by state, local and foreign
governmental authorities; (ii) the highly competitive market for medical devices
and the rapid pace of product development and technological change in this
market; (iii) pressures imposed by the health care industry to reduce the cost
or usage of medical products and services; (iv) dependence on patents and
proprietary rights to protect the Company's trade secrets and technology, and
the need for litigation to enforce or defend these rights; (v) risks associated
with the Company's international operations; (vi) potential product liability
risks inherent in the design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices;
(vii) risks associated with the Company's use of derivative financial
instruments; and (viii) dependence on the continued service of key members of
the Company's management.