Can a simple steroid help babies recover faster from heart surgery?

NCT ID NCT03229538

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Kevin Hill Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tested whether giving the steroid methylprednisolone before and during heart surgery could reduce dangerous inflammation in infants under one year old. Over 1,200 babies were randomly assigned to receive either the steroid or a placebo (salt water). Researchers tracked complications, length of hospital stay, and survival to see if the steroid made a difference.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Methylprednisolone (a steroid)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could reduce serious complications and shorten hospital stays for infants after heart surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a completed phase 3 trial, but steroids may not improve outcomes and could carry risks like infection or side effects. Results may not apply to all infants.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

congenital heart disease inflammatory disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Advocate Children's Hospital

Oak Lawn, Illinois, 60453, United States
Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60611-2605, United States
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229-3039, United States
Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55404, United States
Children's Hospital and Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68114, United States
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90027, United States
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224, United States
Children's Mercy Hospital

Kansas City, Missouri, 64108, United States
Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States
Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States
Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian

New York, New York, 10032-3702, United States
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Columbus, Ohio, 43205, United States
St. Louis Children's Hospital

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas, Texas, 75390-9020, United States
University of Colorado, Denver

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
University of Florida Health - Shands Hospital

Gainesville, Florida, 32608, United States
University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States
Utah/Primary Children's Medical Center

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84113, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

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