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From needles to wearables, rethinking recovery after heart surgery

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After heart surgery the body has an extraordinary amount of work to do to heal. Doctors rely on many tools to support that recovery, and one critical indicator they monitor is lactate.

Lactate levels in the blood can offer vital clues about how well the body is coping. Elevated lactate can suggest tissues are not getting enough oxygen, which could be an early indicator of poor circulation or even sepsis. The current method of checking involves frequent blood tests, important to do but not without drawbacks. These repeated needle sticks can be uncomfortable, and they only offer snapshots of what is happening at the time the test is done.

The Continuum LINT Study, led by Professor Anthony Mathur and run by Barts CVCTU, is exploring whether there is a better way. The team is trialling a wearable sensor developed by Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd, designed to continuously monitor lactate through the skin. No repeated blood draws, no gaps in the data, just a steady stream of real-time information about recovery.

This single-centre study at St Bart’s will include up to 50 participants undergoing planned coronary or valve surgery. The goal is to compare the sensor’s readings with standard blood lactate tests and assess whether it can accurately and safely track trends over time.

What makes this study particularly compelling is its potential to improve both care and comfort. With real-time monitoring, clinicians may be able to spot issues earlier and intervene before a patient’s condition worsens. For patients, fewer needles mean a gentler recovery at a time when rest and stability are essential.

There are also wider implications of studying these types of devices. The Continuum LINT study is part of an emerging movement toward more personalised, responsive digital health tools. If this wearable sensor proves reliable, it could become a routine part of post-surgical care, offering clinicians better data and patients an easier recovery.

To speak with someone about the Continuum LINT study, contact the team at whri-brc-cvctu@qmul.ac.uk.

 

 

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