Epilepsy drug may protect organs during heart surgery — trial tests the idea

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult cardiac surgery patients (≥18 years) undergoing cardiac surgery (CABG, Valve, or CABG and Valve) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). * Able, in the opinion of the investigator, and willing to give informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Emergency or salvage procedure * Patients with end stage renal failure defined as an estimated Glomerular Filtration rate (eGFR) \<15 mL/min/1.72 m2 calculated from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation,1 or patients who are on long-term haemodialysis or have undergone renal transplantation. * Patients with persistent or chronic atrial fibrillation. * Patients with acute liver disease. * Personal or family history of severe hepatic dysfunction, especially drug related. * Patients allergic to sodium valproate. * Patients with thrombocytopaenia (platelet count \<150x109 per mL). * Patients taking long-term Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors such as sodium valproate. * Patients taking any of the following medications: antipsychotics, MAO inhibitors, antidepressants and benzodiazepines, Lithium, Olanzepine, Phenobarbital, Primidone, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine, Felbamate. * Patients diagnosed with a mitochondrial deficiency disorder. * Patients with porphyria. * Patients with known urea cycle disorders. * Women of child bearing potential (WOCBP) are excluded from the study. A woman is defined as being of childbearing potential (WOCBP), i.e. fertile, following menarche and until becoming post-menopausal, unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilisation methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. * Patients who are participating in another interventional clinical trial. * Unable, in the opinion of the investigator, or unwilling to give informed consent protocol.