Blood Loss, Surgical
Conditions
Brief summary
This study will investigate how chest temperature relates to blood loss and blood clotting. Researchers will use infra-red thermometers to measure the temperature of the chest at the end of surgery see if this relates to the amount of blood collected from the surgical drains. In addition, researchers will test if warm irrigation of the chest increases the temperature of the chest and if this impacts blood loss.
Detailed description
Low body temperature during surgery, defined as a temperature below 34 °C, occurs commonly in patients undergoing cardiac surgery due to the bypass machine and an open chest. Low body temperature has been associated with blood loss, but the relevant published data are inconclusive. Nevertheless, evidence suggests that blood loss during and after surgery are higher in low body temperature patients than in the normal body temperature patients. In addition, low body temperature can impair blood clotting. The clinical significance of this is high as it is well established that blood transfusion increases mortality after surgery.
Interventions
PROCEDURESaline irrigation
Mediastinal irrigation with 2 L of 37 degree Celsius saline prior to chest closure
Sponsors
Virginia Commonwealth University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients undergoing open cardiac surgery at VCU * Age18 to 80 years * American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1-3
Exclusion criteria
* history of excessive bleeding * partial thromboplastin time \> 35 s * prothrombin time \> 35 s * fibrinogen \< 200 mg/dL * platelet count \< 100,000/L * history of infection and fever within 4 weeks before surgery * use of steroid or immunosuppressant within 4 weeks before surgery
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chest temperature | At the end of surgery, up to 5 hours | We will use infra-red thermometers to measure the temperature of the chest at the end of surgery |
| Amount of blood loss | 24 hours after the end of surgery | amount of blood drained into the cell-saving device or collection canisters from the chest drains that are left in all patients after surgery |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed