RecruitingACTRN12618001142224

Can we reduce cerebral injury in patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting?

Does Axillary Inflow Reduce Cerebral Injury in patients undergoing Combined Aortic Valve Replacement and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?


Sponsor

Departent of cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital

Enrollment

50 participants

Start Date

Jun 27, 2018

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Summary

Stroke is a potential devastating complication of cardiac surgery occurring in up to 3-4% of patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Peri-operative stroke is often multifactorial and resulting from debris from the heart-lung machine and the sites of heart-lung machine into the blood-stream. Traditionally the first part of the main blood vessel leaving the heart (the aorta) punctured to provide oxygen-rich blood inflow from the heart lung machine for patients undergoing heart surgery. In patients with significant aortic atheroma, the risk of stroke may be minimised by reducing manipulation of diseased aorta. Alternative cannulation sites that do not require a puncture of the aorta include: right axillary cannulation (right arm artery) and common femoral cannulation (upper leg artery). Right axillary cannulation is increasingly being used for major aortic surgery due to a proven reduction in stroke. It has not yet been shown if this benefit will extend to other aspects of cardiac surgery that have a higher risk of stroke. This study comparing cannulation strategy to determine if there is a reduction in stroke. Patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement + coronary artery bypass surgery, who are deemed intermediate or high risk of stroke are randomly assigned to receive either right axillary cannulation or central aortic cannulation Patients in the intervention arm will have arterial cannulation via the right axillary artery. Right axillary cannulation involves an approximately 5cm incision below the right collar bone to get access to the artery used for inflow to the heart-lung machine. The vessel is assessed for suitability to ensure it is suitable for use and if so they are connected to the heart-lung machine via this artery. Patients in the control arm will be have the arterial inflow from the heart lung machine via the aorta as is conventionally done. The remainder of the procedure is unchanged regardless of cannulation strategy. In order to determine a difference in stroke the participant will have an MRI scan of the brain and an assessment performed in the hospital prior to the operation, this will also be repeated within seven days after the operation. The participant will also be required to follow up with a neurologist 3 months after the operation in addition to the routine post-operative review with the cardiothoracic surgeon.


Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 18 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is for patients undergoing a combined heart operation involving both aortic valve replacement (replacing a faulty heart valve) and coronary artery bypass surgery (restoring blood flow to the heart). Stroke is a known risk of these complex operations — occurring in up to 3-4% of cases — often caused by debris dislodged from the aorta (the large blood vessel leaving the heart) during surgery. This trial investigates whether connecting the heart-lung machine through the arm artery (right axillary cannulation) instead of the aorta can reduce that stroke risk. Participants are randomly assigned to have the heart-lung machine connected either through the right arm (under the collarbone) or through the aorta as usual. Before and within a week after surgery, all participants undergo MRI brain scans and neurological assessments to check for any signs of brain injury. A follow-up appointment with a neurologist is also scheduled three months after surgery. You may be eligible if you are scheduled for combined aortic valve replacement and bypass surgery at Royal North Shore Hospital. People who have had a previous stroke, cannot have an MRI, have significant narrowing in the right arm artery, or are unable to complete the 3-month follow-up are not eligible.

This is a simplified summary. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

Cerebral injury is a debilitating complication of cardiac surgery occurring in up to 3-4% of patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Pe

Cerebral injury is a debilitating complication of cardiac surgery occurring in up to 3-4% of patients undergoing combined aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Peri-operative stroke is often multifactorial and resulting from emboli from the heart-lung machine, cannulation site and cross-clamp site. Traditionally the distal ascending aorta is cannulated to provide arterial inflow from the heart lung machine for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In patients with significant aortic atheroma, the risk of stroke may be minimised by reducing instrumentation of diseased aorta. Alternative cannulation sites that prevent cannulation of the aorta include: right axillary cannulation and common femoral cannulation. Right axillary cannulation is increasingly being used for major aortic surgery due to a improved neurological outcomes. It has not yet been shown if this benefit will extend to other aspects of cardiac surgery with a higher risk of stroke. This study is a randomised control trail comparing cannulation strategy; with right axillary cannulation or central aortic cannulation for intermediate or high risk for cerebral injury after combined AVR + CABG. Patients in the intervention arm will have arterial cannulation via the right axillary artery. Right axillary cannulation involves an approximately 5cm incision inferior to the right clavicle with dissection through pectorals major, pectorals minor is either retracted laterally or divided and the axillary artery is secured. The vessel is assess for suitability and is accessed either through direct cannulation with and appropriately sized arterial return cannula or an 8mm pre-clotted Dacron graft is anastomosed to the vessel in an end-to-side fashion through which perfusion is completed. The remainder of the procedure is unchanged regardless of cannulation strategy. All procedures will be undertaken by a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon. Aortic valve replacement + coronary artery bypass surgery takes approximately 4-6 hours with central cannulation, axillary artery cannulation adds approximately 15-20 minutes to the operative time overall, with no additional cardiopulmonary bypass or cross-clamp time.


Locations(1)

Royal North Shore Hospital - St Leonards

NSW, Australia

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ACTRN12618001142224