Your own blood may be best during heart surgery: pilot study tests new approach

NCT ID NCT05889494

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study tested a protocol for using a patient's own blood during heart surgery to see if it works as well as donated blood products. Sixty-four adult heart surgery patients at high risk for bleeding were randomly assigned to either donate their own blood during surgery or receive standard donated blood products. The main goal was to see if the protocol is practical and effective at reducing transfusions and complications.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Autologous whole blood management (patient's own blood donated and re-transfused during surgery)
What this could lead to
If this approach works, it could reduce the need for donated blood transfusions and lower complications after heart surgery.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study testing feasibility, not effectiveness. The results may not apply to all heart surgery patients, and the procedure may not reduce transfusions or complications as hoped.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for POSTOPERATIVE ANEMIA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Postoperative Hemorrhage

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Alberta

    Edmonton, Alberta, T6G2G3, Canada

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.