Could a simple score decide when to start ECMO and save more lives?
NCT ID NCT05412303
First seen Jul 16, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether a score based on heart-support medications (the vasoactive-inotropic score, or VIS) can help doctors decide the best time to start ECMO in patients who develop severe heart failure after cardiac surgery. Researchers will review medical records from nearly 2,800 adults who had ECMO placed in the operating room after heart surgery. The goal is to see if higher VIS scores are linked to better outcomes when ECMO is started early.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide doctors with a clear, objective tool to decide when to start ECMO, potentially saving more lives after heart surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a controlled trial, so it can show associations but not prove cause and effect. The score may not work as well in real-world settings.
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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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Chu Dijon Bourogne
Dijon, 21000, France