Gallivare

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a postoperative rehabilitation program for patients undergoing surgical correction of abdominal rectus diastasis, a condition where the abdominal muscles separate. The study aims to determine if structured abdominal exercises after surgery improve abdominal wall function at three and twelve months and to compare connective tissue components in patients with this condition to healthy individuals. This randomized controlled trial is conducted in Sweden and sponsored by Ume University. Participants will all undergo surgery to correct the abdominal rectus diastasis by plication of the linea alba. They are randomly assigned to one of two groups one group follows a postoperative rehabilitation program designed by a physical therapist, while the other group is allowed to exercise freely without a structured program. Blood samples and tissue biopsies from skin, connective tissue, and rectus muscle are collected before and during surgery. Follow-up assessments occur at three and twelve months after surgery. During the study, participants will be evaluated using physical function tests such as the 5 times sit to stand test and repetitions of a 20-kilogram deadlift at three and twelve months post-surgery. They will also complete questionnaires assessing pain, disability, and pelvic floor distress. Safety and progress are monitored through clinical visits and sample collections. The total participation time covers pre-surgery, surgery day procedures, and follow-ups at three and twelve months.

Researchers are evaluating the impact of two different guidelines for monitoring labor progress on neonatal and maternal outcomes. The study compares the World Health Organizations Labour Care Guide LCG with standard delivery care in Sweden. The goal is to see if using the LCG can reduce adverse neonatal outcomes and lower the rate of intrapartum Cesarean sections. This study uses a multicenter, stepped-wedge cluster randomized design to explore these effects along with economic considerations and experiences related to childbirth. Participants will receive labor monitoring either according to the WHOs LCG guidelines or standard care. The study will involve multiple delivery units in Sweden, and women in active labor will be randomly assigned to either group as the new guidelines are gradually introduced. Alongside the main study periods, researchers will examine perinatal interventions, labor complications, and collect qualitative data through questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews with women, their partners, and healthcare providers. During participation, women and their partners will be asked about their childbirth experiences, while providers compliance and views on using the LCG will also be assessed. The study will track outcomes such as perinatal mortality, neonatal morbidity, cesarean section rates, and obstetric events like postpartum hemorrhage and labor duration. Data collection and follow-up will occur from 12 weeks up to 18 months after delivery, including economic evaluations and provider experiences to fully understand the effects of the labor monitoring methods.

Researchers are evaluating a multimodal preoptimisation programme for patients with ventral hernia defects between four and eight centimeters wide. This randomized controlled trial compares this prehabilitation approach to surgery without structured preoptimisation, aiming to reduce complications three months after surgery. The study also explores molecular changes related to collagen metabolism by collecting tissue biopsies and blood samples around the time of surgery. Participants in the intervention group follow a home-based prehabilitation programme lasting at least three months before surgery. This programme targets physical inactivity, obesity, comorbidities, smoking, and alcohol use, and is designed for both rural and urban populations. The control group receives basic advice on physical activity and weight management during their preoperative consultation. During the study, researchers collect biopsies of skin, muscle, and fascia during surgery and take blood samples before and after surgery to analyze molecular effects. Participants will be monitored for complications up to three months postoperatively, with additional assessments at twelve months including pain, quality of life, aesthetic outcomes, hernia recurrence, physical activity, weight, and various laboratory tests. The total participation time covers preoperative optimization and follow-up visits extending up to one year after surgery.