Clinical treatments
Our collaboration with the pre-hospital services and the focus on continued education and training of every staff member has reduced treatment delay for acute cardiac patients. This strategy has translated into an improved outcome for patients in need of rapid revascularisation for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and immediate treatment of life threatening arrhythmias or heart failure.
We continuously seek to improve treatment of STEMI by investigating whether ischemia-reperfusion injury can be attenuated by remote ischemic conditioning (i.e. 4 cycles of 5-min inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff placed on a limb in the ambulance during transportation to immediate revascularisation)(CONDI-2 trial). Additionally, we study whether treatment of non-STEMI can be improved by immediate revascularisation with primary percutaneous coronary revascularisation (NSTEMI-trial) using identical admission logistics as for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Treatment of arterial hypertension is challenging because a minority of our patients do no reach treatment targets. We have extended our comprehensive non-invasive programme for diagnosis and medical treatment of arterial hypertension to include renal denervation. During this catheter-based procedure a low current ablation of the renal artery inactivates renal sympathetic nerve activity and interrupts signals that cause high blood pressure. Blood pressure decreases within days to weeks in proof-of-concept trials. Our ongoing RESET trial investigates whether this is also the outcome in a randomized study and whether efficacy is persistent.
Arrhythmiais a growing and challenging problem also in patients with congenital heart disease, both children and adults (GrownUps with Congenital Heart defects - GUCH).. A close collaboration between a group of specialists within congenital heart disease, imaging techniques (echocardiography, CT and MRI), congenital heart surgery and electrophysiology offers full-scale evaluation and treatment of all types of arrhythmias. This treatment includes mapping and radiofrequency ablation of tachyarrhythmias and implantable device treatment of brady-tachyarrhythmias to improve patient outcome and quality of life.
We continuously seek to improve treatment of STEMI by investigating whether ischemia-reperfusion injury can be attenuated by remote ischemic conditioning (i.e. 4 cycles of 5-min inflation and deflation of a blood pressure cuff placed on a limb in the ambulance during transportation to immediate revascularisation)(CONDI-2 trial). Additionally, we study whether treatment of non-STEMI can be improved by immediate revascularisation with primary percutaneous coronary revascularisation (NSTEMI-trial) using identical admission logistics as for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Treatment of arterial hypertension is challenging because a minority of our patients do no reach treatment targets. We have extended our comprehensive non-invasive programme for diagnosis and medical treatment of arterial hypertension to include renal denervation. During this catheter-based procedure a low current ablation of the renal artery inactivates renal sympathetic nerve activity and interrupts signals that cause high blood pressure. Blood pressure decreases within days to weeks in proof-of-concept trials. Our ongoing RESET trial investigates whether this is also the outcome in a randomized study and whether efficacy is persistent.
Arrhythmiais a growing and challenging problem also in patients with congenital heart disease, both children and adults (GrownUps with Congenital Heart defects - GUCH).. A close collaboration between a group of specialists within congenital heart disease, imaging techniques (echocardiography, CT and MRI), congenital heart surgery and electrophysiology offers full-scale evaluation and treatment of all types of arrhythmias. This treatment includes mapping and radiofrequency ablation of tachyarrhythmias and implantable device treatment of brady-tachyarrhythmias to improve patient outcome and quality of life.