Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Cerebral Autoregulation Monitoring in Adults Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: Comparison of Near Infrared Spectroscopy With Transcranial Doppler
Brief Summary: Blood flow to the brain is normally regulated to ensure a constant supply of blood with oxygen and nutrients. During heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, blood pressure is kept at a level that may or may not be below an individual's lower level of brain blood flow autoregulation. If lower, the brain may be exposed to an inadequate blood flow that could result in brain damage. The purpose of this study is to examine whether monitoring with a non-invasive FDA approved device that measures oxygen saturation of the superficial layers of the brain (near infrared spectroscopy) can, when combined with blood pressure measurements, provide information on the blood pressure level where brain blood flow is not autoregulated. The goal of this research is to develop a method to individualize blood pressure during surgery to a level that is within a patient's brain blood flow autoregulation range as a means for improving outcomes for patient undergoing heart surgery.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥ 60 years
* Planned and scheduled surgical aortic valve replacement via a full or minimal-access sternotomy (using central aortic perfusion cannulae) for calcific aortic stenosis with a legally marketed valve
* No evidence of neurological impairment as defined by a NIHSS ≤1 and modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤ 2 within 7 days prior to randomization
* Ability to provide informed consent and comply with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

* Contraindication to legally marketed embolic protection devices (e.g. aneurysm of the ascending aorta, aortic trauma, porcelain aorta, known sensitivity to heparin)
* History of clinical stroke within 3 months prior to randomization
* Cardiac catheterization within 3 days of the planned aortic valve replacement
* Cerebral and or aortic arch arteriography or interventions within 3 days of the planned aortic valve replacement
* Active endocarditis at time of randomization
* Anticipated inability to tolerate or contraindication for MRI (e.g., known intolerance of MRI, permanent pacemaker at baseline or expected implantation of a permanent pacemaker)
* Any other concomitant aortic procedure such as root replacement
* Concomitant surgical procedures other than CABG, mitral annuloplasty, left atrial appendage (LAA) excision or exclusion, atrial septal defect (ASD) closure or patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure
* Clinical signs of cardiogenic shock or treatment with IV inotropic therapy prior to randomization
* Concurrent participation in an interventional (drug or device) trial
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18-85 years old;
2. Scheduled for cardiac surgery with bypass (CABG, valve, or combined);
3. Able to provide a written informed consent;
4. Hemodynamically stable (heart rate\>= 55).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Sick sinus syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
2. Atrio-ventricular block
3. Hypersensitivity or known allergy to dexmedetomidine
4. Hepatic disease, e.g. twice the normal level of liver enzymes
5. Atrial fibrillation within 1 preoperative month;
6. Permanent pacemaker;
7. Use of amiodarone or dexmedetomidine within the last 30 days;
8. Patients with an ejection fraction under 30% or who had severe heart failure
9. Myocardial infarction in the previ¬ous 7 days;
10. Body mass index =\< 40 (BMI= mass (kg) / height (m)2);
11. Those taking clonidine within last 48 hours.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* hospitalized in intensive care unit for less than 7 days
* septic shock for less than 24 hours
* at least one proven site of infection
* at least 2 organ dysfunction as defined by a SOFA score =or\> to 3 for at least 6 consecutive hours
* need for vasopressor (dopamine =or\>15µg/kg/min or epinephrine/norepinephrine at =or\>0,25 µg/kg/min for at least 6 consecutive hours, to maintain systolic arterial pressure at 90 mmHg or more OR mean arterial pressure at 6( mmHg or more
* informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* pregnancy or breath feeding
* decision not to resuscitate
* underlying disease with an estimated life expectancy of less than 1 month
* formal indication for corticosteroids
* recent surgery (ie within the past 72 hours) or a surgery at high risk of bleeding
* gastro-intestinal bleeding within the past 6 weeks
* chronic liver disease (Child C)
* recent trauma (ie within the past 72 hours)
* intracranial process
* history of stroke, CNS bleeding or traumatic brain injury within the past 3 months
* platelet counts of less than 30000 per cubic millimeter
* formal indication for curative anticoagulant; prophylactic use of heparin is allowed
* any condition of high risk of bleeding as per patient's primary physicians
* hypersensitivity of activated drotrecogin alpha or any other component of the drug
* no affiliation to a social security

Amendments to eligibility criteria were:

On 27/03/2008: Changes in following exclusion criteria :

* "surgical procedure in the past 7 days" was changed for "surgical procedure within 72 hours, or any surgery associated with high risk of bleeding, or a planned surgery within 24 h".
* "chronic liver disease" was clarified as "chronic liver disease with Child score C".
* "severe thrombopenia" was clarified "as severe thrombopenia (\<30,000/mm3, before transfusion).

On 25/08/2009: The exclusion criteria: surgical procedure within 72 hours, or any surgery associated with high risk of bleeding, or a planned surgery within 24 h" was changed for "surgical procedure within 12 hours, or any surgery associated with high risk of bleeding

On 11/06/2010: the inclusion criteria: admitted to the ICU for \< 7 days was removed; and a new exclusion criteria was added: "patients who had a previous episode of sepsis during the same hospital stay

On 18/04/2012: following the withdrawal of DAA from the market: the following exclusion criteria (only related to DAA) were removed :

1. any surgery in the past 12 hours, or any surgery associated with high risk of bleeding;
2. chronic liver disease with a Child score C;
3. recent trauma;
4. any intracranial mass, or stroke or head injury in the past 3 months;
5. severe thrombocytopenia (\< 30.000 /mm3, before platelet transfusion);
6. formal indication for anticoagulation, or any other condition associated with increased risk of bleeding, as appreciated by the patient's physician.

Answer: C