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The GUARDIAN Trial - Vasopressor Sub-Study

Tight Perioperative Blood Pressure Management to Reduce Serious Cardiovascular, Renal, and Cognitive Complications: The GUARDIAN Trial (Vasopressor Sub-study Comparing Phenylephrine and Norepinephrine)

Status
Enrolling by invitation
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04934748
Enrollment
6254
Registered
2021-06-22
Start date
2021-07-25
Completion date
2027-04-25
Last updated
2025-08-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Blood Pressure

Brief summary

This is a sub-study of the overall GUARDIAN trial (NCT04884802) in which some GUARDIAN trial participants will be additionally randomized to norepinephrine or phenylephrine infusion to maintain the designated target intraoperative mean arterial pressure.

Detailed description

Participants in the underlying GUARDIAN trial (NCT04884802) will be randomized to: 1) norepinephrine or phenylephrine infusion to maintain intraoperative MAP ≥85 mmHg (tight pressure management); or, 2) routine intraoperative blood pressure management (routine pressure management). Participants in this sub-study will be additionally randomized to norepinephrine or phenylephrine infusion to maintain the designated target intraoperative mean arterial pressure.

Interventions

Routine blood pressure control.

Tight blood pressure control.

DRUGPhenylephrine

Phenylephrine will be infused at a rate sufficient to maintain the intraoperative MAP designated in the underlying GUARDIAN trial.

DRUGNorepinephrine

Norepinephrine will be infused at a rate sufficient to maintain the intraoperative MAP designated in the underlying GUARDIAN trial.

Sponsors

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. At least 45 years old; 2. Scheduled for major noncardiac surgery expected to last at least 2 hours; 3. Having general anesthesia, neuraxial anesthesia, or the combination; 4. Expected to require at least overnight hospitalization (planned ICU admission is acceptable); 5. Are designated ASA physical status 2-4 (ranging from mild systemic disease through severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life); 6. Expected to have direct intraoperative blood pressure monitoring with an arterial catheter; 7. Cared for by clinicians willing to follow the GUARDIAN protocol; 8. Subject to at least one of the following risk factors: 1. Age \>65 years; 2. History of peripheral arterial disease; 3. History of coronary artery disease; 4. History of stroke or transient ischemic attack; 5. Serum creatinine \>175 μmol/L (\>2.0 mg/dl) within 6 months; 6. Diabetes requiring medication; 7. Current smoking or 15 pack-year history of smoking tobacco; 8. Scheduled for major vascular surgery; 9. Body mass index ≥35 kg/m2; 10. Preoperative high-sensitivity troponin T \>14 ng/L or troponin I equivalent, defined as ≥15 ng/L (Abbott assay), 19 ng/L (Siemens assay, \[Borges, unpublished\]), or 25% of the 99% percentile for other assays - all within 6 months; 11. B-type natriuretic protein (BNP) \>80 ng/L or N-terminal B-type natriuretic protein (NTProBNP) \>200 ng/L within six months.

Exclusion criteria

1. Are scheduled for carotid artery surgery; 2. Are scheduled for intracranial surgery; 3. Are scheduled for partial or complete nephrectomy; 4. Are scheduled for pheochromocytoma surgery; 5. Are scheduled for liver or kidney transplantation; 6. Require preoperative intravenous vasoactive medications; 7. Have a condition that precludes routine or tight blood pressure management such as surgeon request for relative hypotension; 8. Require beach-chair positioning; 9. Have a documented history of dementia; 10. Have language, vision, or hearing impairments that may compromise cognitive assessments; 11. Have contraindications to norepinephrine or phenylephrine per clinician judgement; 12. Have previously participated in the GUARDIAN trial.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants with a Composite of Major Perfusion-Related ComplicationsDuring the initial 30 days after major non-cardiac surgeryThe primary outcome is a composite of major perfusion-related complications (myocardial injury, stroke, non-fatal cardiac arrest, Stage 2-3 acute kidney injury, deep or organ-space infection, sepsis, and death) in the 30 days after major non-cardiac surgery.

Countries

China, Greece, Japan, United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026