CARDIAC SURGERY

This study tested whether giving erythropoietin (EPO) and an iron injection before heart surgery could lower the number of patients needing blood transfusions. 128 adults scheduled for heart surgery who were at high risk of transfusion took part. The approach aimed to boost hemog…

This study looked at whether using half the usual dose of heparin during heart surgery (bypass or valve replacement) could reduce bleeding afterward. Heparin is a blood thinner used to prevent clots during surgery, but it can increase bleeding. The study involved 238 adults and c…

This study tested whether using ideal body weight (instead of total body weight) to calculate heparin doses during heart-lung bypass reduces excessive bleeding in obese patients. Sixty obese adults scheduled for heart surgery were randomly assigned to receive heparin based on eit…

This study tested whether using a device called the Pleth Variability Index (PVI) to guide a blood-saving technique (acute normovolemic hemodilution) during heart surgery leads to better fluid balance and fewer complications. Eighty patients undergoing cardiac surgery were enroll…

This study tested whether the anesthetic sevoflurane protects the heart better than propofol during aortic valve replacement surgery. 82 patients were randomly assigned to receive either sevoflurane or propofol during and after surgery. The researchers measured troponin levels, a…

This study tested whether dexmedetomidine, a sedative that preserves breathing better than other drugs, can protect the heart during cardiac bypass surgery. Researchers measured heart damage in 224 adults undergoing heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The goal was to see if …

This study tested whether using a measure of oxygen in the blood (SvO2) to guide red blood cell transfusions during heart surgery could reduce how many patients receive transfusions. Over 600 adults undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to either standard rest…

This study looked at whether giving ulinastatin during heart surgery can lower the chance of lung complications like infections or breathing failure. Researchers analyzed data from over 4,500 patients and also used computer models to understand how the drug works. The results sug…

This study tested whether frozen platelets work as well as standard liquid platelets to control bleeding in 161 adults having heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The goal was to see if the frozen version is a safe and effective option. The trial compared the amount of blood …

This study tested whether giving vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) during heart surgery could reduce heart muscle damage in children with Tetralogy of Fallot, a birth defect. 58 children aged 1-10 years received either vitamin E or a placebo at the start of surgery. The main goal was …

This study tested whether a low-dose infusion of landiolol, a short-acting beta-blocker, could prevent atrial fibrillation in 400 non-Asian patients after cardiac surgery. Participants received either landiolol or a placebo for up to 48 hours after surgery. The goal was to see if…

This study tested if being in a room with natural light instead of artificial light could prevent delirium (sudden confusion) after heart surgery. Researchers observed 448 adults in the ICU. The goal was to see if natural light lowers the chance of delirium and reduces the need f…

This study looked at two methods to reduce pain after heart surgery through a cut in the chest bone. 120 adults received either a nerve block near the breastbone, pain medicine injected into the wound, or standard painkillers. Researchers measured pain levels using a saliva test …

This study tested two ways to manage pain after heart surgery: one using a single nerve block near the breastbone, and another adding a second block near the ribs. 72 adults having planned heart surgery took part. The goal was to see if the combined block reduced pain and helped …

This study tested whether giving a low-dose sedative called dexmedetomidine at night can prevent delirium (sudden confusion) in older adults after heart surgery. The trial involved 504 patients aged 60-89 who had heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The drug was infused overn…

This study looked at whether giving ketamine during heart surgery can lower inflammation and pain afterward. 177 adults having planned heart surgery were split into two groups: one got ketamine, the other did not. Researchers measured blood markers of inflammation and asked about…

This study tested whether a 20-minute session of nurse-led spiritual care, including prayer and relaxation techniques, could help heart surgery patients feel less anxious and have more stable blood pressure and heart rate before their operation. 248 adults in Indonesia took part.…

This study tested whether a program combining behavioral activation (helping people do meaningful activities) and medication optimization (adjusting meds) can reduce depression and anxiety in adults 60 and older undergoing heart surgery. 105 participants were split into two group…

This study tested whether special nerve blocks (fascial plane blocks) can improve pain control and reduce time on a breathing machine after open-heart surgery. 206 adults having heart surgery were divided into two groups: one received the nerve blocks plus standard pain care, the…

This study tested whether giving the sedative dexmedetomidine during open heart surgery can help protect patients' thinking and memory afterward. Researchers measured brain function with a simple test and checked a blood marker of brain injury. The trial included 32 adults having…

This study tested two different numbing techniques (ESP block and SAP block) to see which one works better for pain control after heart surgery done through a small chest cut. 57 adults took part, and researchers measured pain levels, morphine use, and overall recovery quality. T…

This study tested whether giving methadone as a pill before heart surgery works as well as giving it through an IV during anesthesia. 41 adults having planned heart surgery took part. Researchers measured how much extra pain medicine they needed and their pain scores after surger…

This study tested whether a single low dose of esketamine, given during anesthesia, could reduce anxiety and depression in 142 adults undergoing heart valve surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either esketamine or a placebo (saline). The researchers measured m…

This study tested whether drinking a carbohydrate beverage two hours before cardiac surgery could lower insulin resistance, a condition that can raise blood sugar and slow recovery. Fifty adults undergoing heart surgery were randomly assigned to receive either a maltodextrin drin…

This study tested whether numbing the airway with lidocaine spray before anesthesia can reduce dangerous blood pressure swings in heart surgery patients. 106 adults having elective cardiac surgery were enrolled. The goal was to lower opioid doses and keep the heart stable during …

This completed study looked at 172 patients who received either a new-generation biological aortic valve or a traditional one during heart surgery. Researchers tracked survival and valve function over five years to see how the newer valves compare. The goal is to provide real-wor…

This study looked at whether using a very low flow of the anesthesia gas sevoflurane during heart surgery is safe and reduces environmental impact. 92 adults having planned heart surgery were randomly assigned to receive either ultra-low-flow or normal-flow anesthesia. Researcher…

This completed study looked at whether four easy-to-use nutrition scoring tools (GNRI, MNA-SF, PNI, and NAF) can predict serious lung complications after heart surgery in 217 patients aged 60 and older. Researchers tracked problems like pneumonia, blood clots in the lungs, and ne…

This study looked at whether patients who had heart surgery can safely and effectively collect swabs from their own chest wounds at home. 43 adults were observed via video call as they swabbed themselves, then sent the samples to a lab. The goal was to see if this method is accep…

This study looked at 100 adults having heart surgery who needed a central line placed in the subclavian vein (under the collarbone). Doctors used either a transversal or longitudinal ultrasound view to guide the needle. The goal was to see which method was quicker and had fewer c…

This completed study looked at 1,000 patients who had heart surgery and were then moved to the ICU. Researchers tracked whether high or low oxygen levels increased the chance of developing delirium, a state of confusion. The goal was to understand how oxygen management might affe…

This study looked at whether a new, rapid blood test called Quantra can reliably measure bleeding risk during heart surgery. Researchers compared Quantra results to standard lab tests in 600 adults having heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The goal was to see if Quantra cou…

This study looked at a type of cell stress called endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in 53 adults having planned heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The goal was to measure changes in ER stress markers before and after the machine was used. By studying these markers, research…

This study tested whether a simple electronic wristband could help doctors understand how patients recover after heart surgery. 137 adults wore the wristband for two months after leaving the hospital, and it counted their daily steps. The goal was to measure when patients returne…

This study looked at 70 adults having open heart surgery (aortic valve or bypass). It compared a newer, smaller heart-lung machine to the standard one. The goal was to see which method better protects the body's tissues and the brain during surgery. Results will help doctors choo…

This study looked at 400 Egyptian patients who had open-heart surgery to see if living in a hot climate affects bleeding afterward. Researchers compared patients from hot regions (Upper Egypt) with those from milder regions (Lower Egypt). The goal was to understand if climate pla…

This pilot study looked at whether giving extra oxygen during heart surgery (when a heart-lung machine is used) affects kidney function afterward. 104 adults having elective heart surgery were randomly assigned to receive either high or normal oxygen levels. The main goal was to …

This study reviewed medical records of 901 infants who had surgery for aortic coarctation (a narrowed aorta) before age one. Researchers wanted to find out how many later developed high blood pressure or re-narrowing of the aorta. The goal is to better understand these risks and …

This study looked at two different methods used to protect the heart during coronary artery bypass surgery. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to receive either Calafiore or modified Del Nido cardioplegic solutions. Researchers measured heart muscle damage markers and amino a…

This study tested whether measuring the area of skin sensitivity around a heart surgery scar can predict if a patient will have chronic pain 3 months later. Researchers used a pain mapping technique on 84 patients two days after surgery. The goal is to find a way to identify high…

This study looked at how doctors in the U.S. manage blood thinners in heart patients who need surgery. The goal was to understand the risks of bleeding and clotting with different approaches. 147 patients were observed to gather data for future research. No new treatments were te…

This study looked back at 455 adults who had heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. Researchers wanted to see if routine blood tests and other factors before surgery could predict acute kidney injury, a serious complication. They found that certain markers of inflammation and k…

This study of 102 heart surgery patients examined whether drops in brain oxygen levels during surgery are linked to memory or thinking problems after the operation. Researchers used a special monitor to track brain oxygen and tested patients' thinking skills before and after surg…

This study looked at over 13,000 adults who had heart surgery to understand how blood transfusions given during the operation might explain why patients with anemia before surgery are more likely to have complications afterward. The goal is to help doctors make better decisions a…

This study tested two simple breathing maneuvers—briefly pausing the ventilator at different points—to see if they could predict whether a patient needs more fluids after heart surgery. 90 adults on ventilators after cardiac surgery were included. The goal was to find a reliable,…

This study looked at two different methods for deciding when to give red blood cell transfusions to patients recovering from heart surgery. One method used a standard hemoglobin level threshold, while the other used a measure of oxygen in the blood (central venous oxygen saturati…

This study looked at whether two types of heart ultrasound (TTE and TEE) give the same measurement of right ventricle function during heart surgery. Researchers measured the right ventricle's shortening fraction in 90 adults undergoing scheduled cardiac surgery. The goal was to s…

This study looked at 38 adults who had heart surgery to better understand the heart damage that can occur. Researchers used cardiac MRI scans and blood tests for troponin (a heart damage marker) to measure and compare the extent of injury. The goal was to improve knowledge of how…

This study measured how fast pulse waves travel from the heart to different arteries in 40 patients undergoing heart surgery with a heart-lung machine. The goal was to see if this speed can detect when blood pressure in central arteries differs from that in arm or leg arteries. R…