Heart surgery sedative may shield your memory, large trial hopes
NCT ID NCT04289142
First seen Jan 10, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 24 times
Summary
This phase 4 trial tests whether the sedative dexmedetomidine can prevent long-term thinking and memory problems after heart surgery. Researchers will give the drug to 2400 adults aged 60 and older during and after their operation, then track their brain function for a year. If successful, it could become the first preventive treatment for post-surgery cognitive decline.
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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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Contacts and locations
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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Locations
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Laval University
RECRUITINGQuébec, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
Contact
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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London Health Sciences
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGLondon, Ontario, N6A 5A5, Canada
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Royal Columbian Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGVancouver, British Columbia, V3L 0A2, Canada
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St. Michael's Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8, Canada
Contact
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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St. Paul's Hospital
RECRUITINGVancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Contact
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
Contact
Contact
Contact
Contact
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Contact
Contact
Contact
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Contact
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Toronto General Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
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University of Saskatchewan
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGSaskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W8, Canada
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Dexmedetomidine (a sedative drug)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could provide the first effective way to prevent long-term memory and thinking problems after heart surgery, helping patients recover faster and stay independent.
What could go wrong
This is a single-drug approach in a complex surgery setting; results may not apply to all patients or surgeries. The drug also carries risks like low blood pressure or slow heart rate.
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.