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Enhancing surgical recovery through continuous lactate monitoring

For patients undergoing cardiac surgery, tracking lactate levels is crucial in assessing post-operative recovery. Elevated lactate can signal potential complications such as oxygen deprivation, tissue damage, or sepsis. Currently, lactate monitoring relies on repeated blood tests, which provide limited real-time data and can be uncomfortable for patients.

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The Continuum LINT Study, led by Professor Anthony Mathur and CVCTU, is exploring a new wearable lactate sensor developed by Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd. This device continuously measures lactate levels in interstitial fluid, providing real-time metabolic insights without the need for repeated blood draws.

This single-centre study will recruit up to 50 participants undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve replacement surgery. The goal is to evaluate the ability of the device to track lactate trends over time and compare its readings to standard venous and arterial lactate measurements.

One key advantage of continuous lactate monitoring may be to enable detection of early signs of complications, thus allowing doctors to intervene before a patient’s condition worsens. Additionally, a real-time monitoring system could help optimise post-surgical care, reducing the risk of complications and improving patient outcomes.

Another major aspect of the study is examining the practicality and comfort of wearable lactate sensors. Traditional monitoring methods require multiple blood draws, which can be painful and inconvenient for patients recovering from surgery. If this wearable technology proves accurate and user-friendly, it could eliminate the need for frequent blood tests, enhancing both patient comfort and clinical efficiency.

The Continuum LINT Study is part of a broader effort to digitally transform healthcare monitoring, making post-surgical recovery more precise, responsive, and patient-friendly. If successful, this technology could become a standard tool in intensive care units and hospital wards, helping clinicians make more informed decisions and improving long-term patient care.

To talk to someone about the Continuum LINT study contact the team on whri-brc-cvctu@qmul.ac.uk

 

 

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