Methods in acute life-threatening conditions

Our multidisciplinary research group, lead by Tal Hörer and Kristofer Nilsson, conducts experimental and clinical research in vascular surgery, trauma, major surgery as well as anesthesia and intensive care.

The research projects aim to develop and evaluate innovative treatment methods for life-threatening bleeding, e.g. after traumatic injuries, and other conditions of circulatory collapse such as cardiac arrest. Furthermore, the research projects aim to develop methods for early detection, prevention and treatment of impaired organ function and complications in critical illness and after gastrointestinal surgery and thoracic surgery.

The research group is the initiator of an international, prospective multicenter study of trauma patients where a special method for temporary bleeding control has been used (resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion balloon of the aorta, REBOA). Other clinical trials include prospective observational studies in cardiac and vascular surgery patients.

The animal experimental research is conducted in accordance with all applicable legal and ethical principles. These projects include pathophysiological studies of circulatory, metabolic and inflammatory aspects of various types of shock and organ failure. These studies aim to increase knowledge about disease mechanisms and to develop and evaluate treatment methods prior to use in humans.

The research group has several national and international collaborations as well as collaborations with companies in the development of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.

Endovascular Resuscitation and Trauma Management (EVTM)
The research group has developed the concept Endovascular Resuscitation and Trauma Management (EVTM) for the care of patients in severe shock. The research group arranges recurring international congresses and workshops within the concept in Örebro with course management and participants from a large number of different countries.

The research group has started and together with others runs a scientific journal, where Tal Hörer is the editor-in-chief, which aims to publish well-done and innovative research within EVTM (JEVTM). The journal is indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus, among others. The research group has also taken the initiative for two textbooks on EVTM, in which Tal Hör is the editor-in-chief.

Nitric oxide-based treatment of various disease states
The research group has a collaboration with a small pharmaceutical company, Attgeno AB of which Kristofer Nilsson is a co-founder and which was started thanks to research discoveries Kristofer Nilsson made during his PhD work. The academic research aims to develop and evaluate new drug candidates in nitric oxide-based treatment of various disease states. The pharmaceutical company handles the clinical development of the drug candidates and one of the drug candidates will in the near future be investigated in a phase I study (healthy volunteers). The research group is a co-applicant in grants awarded by VINNOVA.