CARDIAC SURGERY

This large trial tests two types of intravenous fluids given during heart surgery: hydroxyethyl starch (HES) and balanced crystalloids. The goal is to see which fluid leads to fewer serious kidney problems, such as kidney failure or death. About 1,292 adults having heart surgery …

This Phase 2 trial tests whether the drug LSALT peptide can prevent or reduce acute kidney injury in 240 adults undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. Participants receive either the drug or a placebo before surgery, and doctors monitor kidney function for a week. The goal is to see…

This study tests whether giving a combination of iron, erythropoietin, and vitamin C before major heart surgery can lower the need for blood transfusions in adults with iron-deficiency anemia. About 400 participants will receive either the combined regimen or standard care. The g…

This phase 3 trial tests whether giving inhaled nitric oxide during and after heart surgery can lower the risk of death or major complications like kidney failure, stroke, and heart failure. About 3,650 adults having elective heart surgery with a heart-lung machine will receive e…

This study looks at whether giving anemic patients a combination of iron, erythropoietin, and vitamin C for three days before heart surgery can improve their quality of life, sleep, and fatigue over the long term. Researchers will compare these patients to those receiving standar…

This early-stage study tests a new tube (cannula) placed in the leg artery during heart surgery that uses a heart-lung machine. The device is designed to keep blood flowing to the leg, reducing the risk of limb damage. Fifteen adults having planned heart surgery will be enrolled,…

This study tests whether giving iron through a vein (IV) after heart surgery helps people with iron-deficiency anemia recover better. About 60 adults having planned open-heart surgery will receive either IV iron or a placebo. The goal is to see if this treatment is practical and …

This study tests whether using a simple urine test to guide the dose of a water pill (furosemide) can safely and effectively remove excess fluid after heart surgery. About 102 adults having heart surgery with a heart-lung machine will be randomly assigned to either standard care …

This study tests new plastic tubes (cannulas) used to connect patients to a heart-lung machine during heart surgery. The trial has two parts: first, a small safety check, then a larger comparison with existing tubes. About 80 adults having planned heart surgery will take part to …

This study compares cold-stored platelets to standard room-temperature platelets for controlling bleeding in adults after heart surgery. About 150 patients will be randomly assigned to receive one type. The goal is to see if cold storage is a safe and effective option, and to pla…

This study compares two anesthetics—desflurane gas and propofol—during coronary artery bypass surgery. Researchers want to see if desflurane helps prevent major heart problems like heart attack or heart failure within 30 days after surgery. About 3,560 adults having planned bypas…

This study tests whether a specific set of anesthesia targets, called NeuroFirst, can reduce silent brain injury and thinking problems in older adults having heart surgery. About 900 patients aged 60 and older will be randomly assigned to either the NeuroFirst approach or standar…

This study tests whether a smartphone app that guides patients through a rapid recovery program (ERAS) can reduce time in the hospital after heart bypass surgery. About 480 adults in Brazil will use the app, which starts before surgery and continues for 30 days after discharge. T…

This study tests whether a smartwatch (Withings ScanWatch) can diagnose atrial fibrillation that occurs after heart surgery better than standard monitoring. About 324 adults who had on-pump heart surgery will either use the smartwatch or receive usual care. The goal is to catch s…

This study tests two ways to manage pain after heart surgery: an ultrasound-guided nerve block using bupivacaine, or a continuous lidocaine infusion. It involves 138 adults undergoing planned heart surgery. The goal is to see which method reduces morphine use in the first 24 hour…

This study looks at whether doing arm exercises with deep breathing helps heart surgery patients breathe better compared to arm exercises alone. About 90 adults who had planned open-heart surgery will try both methods in the ICU. Researchers will check oxygen levels, breathing ra…

This study compares two anesthesia approaches for heart surgery: Fast Track (waking up within 6 hours) and Ultra Fast Track (waking up right in the operating room). The goal is to see which method leads to fewer lung problems, less pain, and a shorter hospital stay. About 50 adul…

This study compares two regional anesthesia techniques to manage pain in 50 adults undergoing heart surgery via a chest incision. One group receives an Erector Spinae Plane Block, while the other gets a combination of Superficial Parasternal Intercostal Plane Block and Serratus A…

This study tests whether giving a numbing medicine (ropivacaine) through chest tubes after heart surgery helps patients recover better than a placebo. About 116 adults having planned heart surgery will take part. The goal is to see if this approach reduces pain and improves overa…

This study tests two different nerve blocks to see which one better controls pain after open-heart surgery. 90 adults aged 40-60 having coronary bypass will get one of the blocks or a sham procedure. The goal is to reduce pain and the need for extra painkillers, helping patients …

This study compares giving methadone as a pill before heart surgery versus through an IV during surgery. Researchers want to see which method reduces pain and the amount of extra opioids needed in the days after surgery. About 100 adults having planned heart surgery will take par…

This study tests whether a specific nerve block (SPSIP block) can reduce pain and the need for strong painkillers after open-heart surgery. Fifty adults having elective surgery will receive either the block plus standard pain care or standard care alone. Researchers will measure …

This study looks at whether a simple frailty score can predict how well people aged 75 and older recover one year after emergency heart surgery. Researchers will track quality of life and survival in 265 participants over 12 months. The goal is to see if frailty, measured before …

This study uses wearable EKG patches to track heart rhythms in 150 adults having elective open-heart surgery. The goal is to find out how often atrial fibrillation occurs after surgery and what factors increase the risk. Researchers hope this will lead to better prediction and pr…

This study investigates whether variations in oxygen levels during heart surgery with a heart-lung machine can help predict how well patients recover. Researchers will collect blood and tissue samples from 120 adults undergoing bypass surgery and track their recovery using a seve…

This study is checking how well the Dexcom G7, a continuous glucose monitor, works in 100 adults having heart surgery. The device is placed on the arm and tracks blood sugar during and after the operation for up to 10 days. The goal is to see if it gives accurate readings in this…

This study surveys 1,000 adults who had heart surgery at UZ Leuven to find out how many develop chronic pain lasting more than 3 months. Researchers will also compare pain rates between different incision types and surgeries, and measure how pain affects daily activities and qual…

This study talks to heart surgery patients and their families to learn what kind of follow-up care they receive and what they actually want after going home. The goal is to find better ways to support recovery and prevent people from having to return to the hospital. About 24 peo…

This study examines bacteria living on heart valves in 200 patients having aortic valve surgery. Researchers want to see if these bacteria are linked to serious complications after surgery, like stroke or infection. The goal is to better understand how oral health and heart disea…

This study watches 160 heart surgery patients who take blood pressure medications to see if taking more than one drug increases the risk of a sudden drop in blood pressure after anesthesia. The researchers will measure how low blood pressure goes and how long it stays low. No new…

This study tests whether a personalized lung volume optimization maneuver can improve heart and lung function in children on ventilators. It includes two groups: children recovering from heart surgery and those with severe respiratory failure. Researchers will adjust ventilator p…

This study looks at why some older adults experience memory or thinking problems after heart surgery. Researchers will test 80 patients aged 60 and older with thinking assessments and blood tests before and after surgery. The goal is to find simple ways to detect these cognitive …

This study is observing 2000 adults having heart surgery to find out how often they have a 'difficult airway' — trouble with a breathing tube. The goal is to create a tool that helps doctors predict this problem before it happens. No new treatments are being tested; the focus is …

This study tracks 230 adults having planned heart surgery to see if unstable blood pressure during the operation raises the risk of serious problems like confusion, kidney injury, stroke, or death within 30 days. Researchers will monitor blood pressure dips and use of pressure-ra…

This study explores whether medical trainees (residents and fellows) can learn to use lung ultrasound to detect a collapsed lung (pneumothorax) after heart surgery. About 120 adults will have their lungs checked by a trainee with ultrasound and also get a standard chest X-ray aft…

This study looks at whether a backup of blood in the veins during heart surgery is linked to confusion (delirium) after the operation. Researchers will monitor 120 adults having planned heart surgery. The goal is to understand this possible connection, not to test a new treatment…