Effects of Microplegia on Transfusion Rates After Cardiac Surgery

Summary

This is a prospective, randomized study that is studying the rate of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion rates after planned heart (cardiac) surgery. The study will be conducted at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Cardioplegia refers to the method of stopping (arresting) the heart in order to perform heart surgery. However, cardioplegia has also come to refer to the solution to achieve cardiac arrest as well as the machinery in which to deliver the solution. This study will investigate our current Standard Cardioplegia (diluted 4:1 blood cardioplegia) versus Microplegia (undiluted blood cardioplegia) to determine if Microplegia reduces peri-operative blood transfusion rates as compared to Standard Cardioplegia. All forms of cardioplegia will be delivered using the MPS2 Microplegia delivery machine by Quest Medical, Inc. Patients will be randomized to receive undiluted microplegia or standard 4:1 cardioplegia. The patient and the surgeon will be blinded to the randomization. Patients will be followed for 30 days post-operatively (or until their initial standard of care post-operative follow up visit with cardiac surgery if that appointment falls outside of the 30 day post-operative window) for the development of any adverse events as well as documentation of blood products given. We will draw one tube of blood for troponin levels at four time points; 1 draw before surgery (this may be done during the intraoperative period), and 3 draws post-operatively: ICU arrival, 12 hours post-ICU arrival and 24 hours post-ICU arrival. This is to closely monitor the patient for any heart tissue injury.

Timeline

Start

2019-03-25

Primary completion

2023-06-01

Completion

2023-08-01

Publications

• Background Follette DM, Fey K, Buckberg GD, Helly JJ Jr, Steed DL, Foglia RP, Maloney JV Jr. Reducing postischemic damage by temporary modification of reperfusate calcium, potassium, pH, and osmolarity. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1981 Aug;82(2):221-38.
• Background Fremes SE, Christakis GT, Weisel RD, Mickle DA, Madonik MM, Ivanov J, Harding R, Seawright SJ, Houle S, McLaughlin PR, et al. A clinical trial of blood and crystalloid cardioplegia. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1984 Nov;88(5 Pt 1):726-41.
• Background Guru V, Omura J, Alghamdi AA, Weisel R, Fremes SE. Is blood superior to crystalloid cardioplegia? A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Circulation. 2006 Jul 4;114(1 Suppl):I331-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.001644.
• Background McCann UG 2nd, Lutz CJ, Picone AL, Searles B, Gatto LA, Dilip KA, Nieman GF. Whole blood cardioplegia (minicardioplegia) reduces myocardial edema after ischemic injury and cardiopulmonary bypass. J Extra Corpor Technol. 2006 Mar;38(1):14-21.
• Background Algarni KD, Weisel RD, Caldarone CA, Maganti M, Tsang K, Yau TM. Microplegia during coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with less low cardiac output syndrome: a propensity-matched comparison. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 May;95(5):1532-8. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.09.056.
• Background Onorati F, Santini F, Dandale R, Ucci G, Pechlivanidis K, Menon T, Chiominto B, Mazzucco A, Faggian G. "Polarizing" microplegia improves cardiac cycle efficiency after CABG for unstable angina. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Sep 10;167(6):2739-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.06.099. Epub 2012 Jul 12.
• Background Murphy GJ, Reeves BC, Rogers CA, Rizvi SI, Culliford L, Angelini GD. Increased mortality, postoperative morbidity, and cost after red blood cell transfusion in patients having cardiac surgery. Circulation. 2007 Nov 27;116(22):2544-52. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.698977. Epub 2007 Nov 12.
• Results BIGELOW WG, LINDSAY WK, GREENWOOD WF. Hypothermia; its possible role in cardiac surgery: an investigation of factors governing survival in dogs at low body temperatures. Ann Surg. 1950 Nov;132(5):849-66. doi: 10.1097/00000658-195011000-00001. No abstract available.

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