Heart test during surgery may spot deadly risks

NCT ID NCT03365726

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether giving a drug called dobutamine during major non-cardiac surgery and using a special ultrasound (speckle tracking) can identify patients at higher risk of heart attack or death after surgery. The researchers enrolled 140 adults undergoing major abdominal, chest, hip, or cancer surgery. The goal was to see if this intraoperative stress test could help anesthesiologists prevent serious heart complications.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

dobutamine

What this could lead to

If successful, this approach could help doctors identify high-risk patients during surgery and take steps to prevent heart attacks or death afterward.

What could go wrong

This was a small, completed study with 140 participants, and the results may not apply to all patients or surgeries. The test itself carries risks like heart strain from dobutamine.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MORTALITY AFTER MAJOR NON CARDIAC SURGERY are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • MUHC

    Montreal, Quebec, Canada