Can removing blood before heart surgery cut transfusions? large trial aims to find out.
NCT ID NCT03913481
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a technique called acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) in 2000 high-risk heart surgery patients. Before the heart-lung machine is used, doctors remove some blood and replace it with fluids. The goal is to see if this reduces the number of patients who need a blood transfusion during their hospital stay. The trial compares ANH to standard care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Acute normovolemic hemodilution (a procedure where some blood is removed before surgery and replaced with fluids)
What this could lead to
If it works, this simple procedure could reduce the need for blood transfusions in heart surgery patients, saving blood and lowering risks.
What could go wrong
This is a well-known technique but still lacks strong evidence. The benefit may be small or not apply to all patients, and there are risks like low blood pressure or anemia during surgery.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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AOU Pisana
Pisa, 56126, Italy
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Astrakhan Centre For Cardiac Surgery
Astrakhan, 414011, Russia
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Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano di Torino
Torino, 10128, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliera Padova
Padua, 35129, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Policlinico "G.Rodolico - San Marco"
Catania, 95123, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Torino, 10126, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant'Andrea
Rome, 00189, Italy
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Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine
Udine, 33100, Italy
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Chiang Mai University Hospital
Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
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Città di Lecce Hospital - GVM Care & Research
Lecce, 73100, Italy
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Dante Pazzanese Institute od Cardiology
São Paulo, 04012-909, Brazil
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E. Meshalkin National Medical Research Center
Novosibirsk, Russia
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IRCCS Cardiologico Monzino
Milan, 20138, Italy
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IRCCS Policlinico San Donato
Milan, 20097, Italy
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Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases "Dedinje"
Belgrade, 11040, Serbia
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Instituto do Coração - Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade de São Paulo
São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil
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Istituto Clinico Humanitas
Rozzano, 20089, Italy
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King Abdullah Medical City
Mecca, 24246, Saudi Arabia
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Kosuyolu High Specialization Education and Research Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey, 34903, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Maria Cecilia Hospital
Cotignola, Ravenna, Italy
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Mohammed Bin Khalifa Specialist Cardiac Center
Awali, Bahrain, Bahrain
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Moscow Clinical Scientific Center named after Loginov
Moscow, 111123, Russia
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National University Hospital
Singapore, 119074, Singapore
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OUHSC - University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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Ospedale San Carlo
Potenza, 85100, Italy
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Ospedale San Raffaele di Milano, Italy
Milan, 20132, Italy
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Policlinico Tor Vergata
Rome, 00133, Italy
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Saint-Petersburg State University Hospital
Saint Petersburg, 190103, Russia
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San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona
Salerno, 84131, Italy
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University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
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Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center of Surgery
Moscow, 117997, Russia
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Xijing Hospital
Xi'an, 710032, China