New PhD at The Intervention Centre on "Continuous monitoring of left ventrucular function by epicardial 3-axis accelerometers"

On December 1st 2010 anesthesiologist Steinar Halvorsen from The Intervention Centre defended his PhD thesis on the topic Continuous monitoring of left ventricular function by epicardial accelerometers. In the trial lecture the same day, Steinar Halvorsen presented "The importance of the Swan Ganz catheter in hemodynamic monitoring" in an excellent manner. The research presented in the thesis was based on a novel method for monitoring of heart function during cardiac surgery. The method detects reduced blood supply to the heart much earlier than conventional methods, and is based on measurements of heart wall movements with an acceleration sensor. In a final application the sensor will be miniturized and embedded in a temporary pacemaker lead routinely attached to the heart surface after cardiac surgery in the immediate post-operative phase.

A team led by Steinar Halvorsen has showed a close relation between heart surface movements and heart muscle function. The method was was tested in experimental models and patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery without heart and lung machine. By use of the sensor myocardial function can be monitored continuously and early and highly accurate detection of myocardial infarction caused by ischemia is facilitated. Improved monitoring leads to earlier and better interventions reducing complications and lowers risks related to cardiac surgery. The pictire shows Steinar Halvorsen flanked by his mentors professor Tor Inge Tønnessen (left) and professor Erik Fosse.