Aetiology of preoperative anaemia in cardiac surgery
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN49461366 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN49461366 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | N/A |
- Submission date
- 11/12/2011
- Registration date
- 23/01/2012
- Last edited
- 27/07/2015
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Haematological Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are essential for carrying oxygen around the body via the bloodstream. Anaemia occurs when there is a reduction in the number of RBCs in the blood, meaning that less oxygen is available in the bloodstream. Pre-existing anaemia is an important and common health problem for patients presenting for elective heart surgery. It is associated with an increased requirement for blood transfusion, postoperative complications and death. Anaemia may be due to a variety of causes, with different types of anaemia requiring different treatments. However, identification of anaemia is often difficult using blood tests alone. Bone marrow analysis will improve the accuracy of the investigation to identify the cause of anaemia in these difficult situations. This is because RBCs are made in the bone marrow, which is found inside bones. Bone marrow analysis allows us to directly examine the number, condition and content of the predecessor cells which later develop into mature RBCs. In practice bone marrow biopsy is rarely performed because it is an invasive procedure. Currently there is little information on the cause of preoperative anaemia in heart surgery patients.
The main aim of this study is to accurately determine the causes of preoperative anaemia using both blood tests and bone marrow analyses in anaemic patients scheduled to have heart surgery at Papworth Hospital. Heart surgery provides a unique and convenient opportunity to obtain bone marrow sample from the breast bone (sternum). This is because the patients' sternums are routinely opened (sternotomy), whilst under general anaesthetics, by the heart surgeons to access the hearts during surgery. We will also determine the relative frequency and likely outcome of the different types of anaemia, and the treatments required to correct anaemia before surgery. This information will be used in a follow-up study looking at different treatments for preoperative anaemia. Correcting preoperative anaemia may lead to a reduction in blood transfusion and improved postoperative outcome for patients.
Who can participate?
To take part the patients need to be:
1. 18 years or older
2. Scheduled to undergo elective heart surgery requiring artificial heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass)
3. Anaemic before surgery (haemoglobin <13g/dL for men and <12 g/dL for women on admission)
What does the study involve?
This is an observational study of 200 elective heart surgical adults with preoperative anaemia. Management of the patients will not be altered as part of the study. All patients will have blood tests done before surgery, as part of the initial work up to identify the cause of the pre-existing anaemia. Small samples of bone marrow from the sternum will be collected using small needles in all patients immediately after sternotomy during surgery while patients are under general anaesthesia. Data regarding patient clinical information, transfusion, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, severe kidney failure and death will be collected.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating in the study?
The treatment of future patients may be improved and heart surgery may be made safer when we know the results of this study. There are no known risks to participants. Any participants with significant or unexpected investigation findings will be referred to haematologists for follow-ups.
Where is the study run from?
They study takes place at Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Patient enrolment is expected to commence in January 2012 and it is expected to run for 7 months.
Who is funding the study?
Research and Development Unit, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Andrew Klein
Andrew.klein@papworth.nhs.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Department of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care
Papworth Hospital
Papworth Everard
Cambridge
CB23 3RE
United Kingdom
Study information
| Study design | Observational study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | A prospective observational study to investigate the aetiology of preoperative anaemia in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery |
| Study objectives | Preoperative anaemia is a highly prevalent and important health problem for cardiac surgical patients. It is associated with increased risk of blood transfusion and higher perioperative morbidity and mortality. Given the recognised risks associated with both anaemia and blood transfusion, the primary strategy to maintain an optimal perioperative haemoglobin level in these patients should include the correct diagnosis and successful treatment of preoperative anaemia before surgery takes place. Despite this, there is a paucity of data on the aetiology of preoperative anaemia in cardiac surgical patients. The findings from the study will indicate the relative frequency of the different causes of anaemia in cardiac surgical patients, and enable planning of appropriate treatment. This will assist in developing further research into the correction of anaemia before cardiac surgery, which may have a significant impact on clinical practice. |
| Ethics approval(s) | National Research Ethics Service Committee East of England - Norfolk, 15/06/2011, ref: 11/EE/0114 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Preoperative anaemia |
| Intervention | Standard preoperative blood test results will be noted. Additional blood will be taken for further tests. This forms the initial workup to determine the different causes of anaemia. Intraoperatively at sternotomy, a small amount of bone marrow sample will be collected from the open sternal edge. The marrow sample will be sent to the pathology laboratory for histochemical analysis. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | To investigate the aetiology of preoperative anaemia, as defined by the WHO criteria, in adult patients undergoing scheduled cardiac surgery. |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. To gain information on the relative frequency and prognostic implications of the different types of preoperative anaemia 2. To assess the validity of the blood based tests in distinguishing the different types of preoperative anaemia 3. To devise a diagnostic algorithm and therapeutic regimes required for assessing and correcting anaemia before cardiac surgery takes place |
| Overall study start date | 01/01/2012 |
| Completion date | 31/07/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned sample size: 200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Consecutive patients, 18 years or older, scheduled to undergo elective cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, who are anaemic at preoperative testing 2. Patients requiring: 2.1. First time or redo sternotomy 2.2. Coronary artery bypass grafting 2.3. Valve replacement or repair 2.4. Operation on the aorta |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Hb ≥ 13 g/dL in men and ≥ 12 g/dL in women at preoperative testing 2. Emergency (non-scheduled) surgery |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/01/2012 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
CB23 3RE
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Hospital/treatment centre
Research & Development Unit
Papworth Everard
Cambridge
CB23 3RE
England
United Kingdom
| Website | http://www.papworthhospital.nhs.uk/index.php |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/05mqgrb58 |
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/01/2015 | Yes | No |
