Heart surgery patients may soon swab their own wounds at home
NCT ID NCT07200401
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study looked at whether patients who had heart surgery can safely and effectively collect swabs from their own chest wounds at home. 43 adults were observed via video call as they swabbed themselves, then sent the samples to a lab. The goal was to see if this method is acceptable, safe, and could save money by reducing hospital visits.
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 approach could allow patients to monitor their own wounds at home, reducing hospital visits and catching infections earlier.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small feasibility study with only 43 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The method may not work for all wound types or patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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43 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Feasibility Study * Cardiac surgery ≥18 years old patients with a central chest wound, where the wound is a closed wound - assessed by the research nurse * Patients having elective or urgent surgery * Patients who have been discharged home or to a care home * Willing and able to provide written informed consent prior to participation in the clinical investigation. * Willing and able to comply with all study related procedures, with or without digital resource/internet access. Exclusion Criteria: * Feasibility Study * Cardiac surgery patients with open wounds extending beyond skin level, or where deep tissue, organs or implants are visible, wounds with constant or heavy discharge of fluid, wounds leaking pus at the time of the video consultation. * Patients having emergency or salvage surgery * Patients still in hospital * Patients with a dressing covering their wound at the time of the video consultation. * Congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, bone marrow disease, diabetes, autoimmune conditions requiring immunosuppressive treatment, any immunosuppressive medication at the time of consent or within the last 4 weeks before consent. * Undergoing active cancer treatment at time of consent/ or planning to start cancer treatment within the study period or completed cancer treatment within the last 4 weeks of the study commencing. * Patients who lack capacity to consent
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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
Locations
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Harefield Hospital
Harefield, UB9 6JH, United Kingdom
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Royal Sussex County Hospital
Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom
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