New PhD at The Intervention Centre on new methods in coronary surgery

On February 7th 2011 dr Jacob Bergsland defended his doctoral thesis "Safe introduction and quality control of new methods in cardiac surgery" at Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. First opponent was Professor of Surgery Dimitri Novitzky, University of South Florida, USA, second opponent Professor Dag Sørlie, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, and committe leader was Professor Knut Kvernebo, Heart-, Lung- and Vascular Clinic, Institute for Clinical Medicine, Universitety of Oslo. Bypass operation on the coronary arteries of the heart is the most common type of cardiac surgery, and is performed on 1000 per million inhabitants in Norway and other western countries. The operations has given good results, and is typically performed with use of heart and lung macine and arrested heart. The cardiac surgeon Jacob Bergsland at The Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital has studied coronary artery surgery performed on beating heart without heart and lung machine. Studies were made in USA where dr. Bergsland formerly worked, and at The Intervention Centre in Oslo. The studies from USA were the first to compare beating heart surgery with traditional methode by use of data from registries. Bergsland's studies showed that beating heart surgery could reduce complication rates, especially in high risk patients. (Photo:Hans H. Reinertsen)

The Norwegian studies investigated the values of new technology in beating heart surgery. Use of automated stapling machine in fastening of new vessels were compared with traditonal technique. The stapeling machine technique showed out to give poorer results than the conventional method. Based on these studies, among others, the stapeling device was withdrawn from the market. Another study of patients undergoing beating heart cardiac surgery demonstrated the value of so-called shunt technology to prevent serious episodes of adverse events during such operations.
A main finding in dr. Bergsland's studies is that new methods in surgery must be subject to through critical testing before implementation in routine treatment. In this way one can avoid that large patient groups are exposed to inefficient and in the worst case harmfull interventions. Such studies must be performed by analysis of trustwotrhy patient registers or by use of controlled comparative clinical trials. Studies must be planned thoroughly to secure patient security in the best possible way.