UPDATE 1-Thoratec posts Q1 profit; shares rise

* Post Q1 profit, bolstered by cardiovascular unit

* Revenue up 39 pct

* Backs outlook for 2009

* Shares up 4 pct

May 7 (Reuters) - Cardiac device maker Thoratec Corp (THOR.O) posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, as strong sales at its cardiovascular division propped up its revenue base, sending its shares up as much as 4 percent.

The company, however, said revenue at its International Technidyne Corp (ITC) unit were hurt by competitive pressure in its skin incision and professional ProTime businesses, among other things.

The company also backed its outlook for the year and said revenue at its ITC unit was likely to be flat to up in the low single digits.

For the first quarter, net income was $5.6 million, or 10 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $678,000, or 1 cent a share, a year ago.

Excluding items, the company earned 22 cents a share that topped market estimates by 5 cents.

Revenue rose 39 percent to $89.5 million, while analysts were expecting $82.9 million.

The company's cardiovascular division put in a good show with a 61 percent rise in sales.

Shares of Thoratec, which closed at $29.59 Thursday on Nasdaq, rose to $30.65 in trading after the bell. (Reporting by Anuradha Ramanathan in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva) ((anuradha.ramanathan@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800: Reuters Messaging: anuradha.ramanathan.reuters.com@reuters.net))