Clinical trial NCT00296985: Continuous Cellsaver and Neurocognitive Decline Post Cardiac Surgery
Official title: The Impact of Continuous Flow Cellsaver on Neurocognitive Decline After Cardiac Surgery
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Heart Disease
Neurocognitive Decline
Keywords: Cardiac surgery
Cellsaver
Neurocognitive Function
Neuronal Protection
Quality of Life
Lead sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
First posted: 2006-02-27
Enrollment: 312
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: Patients having cardiac surgery to correct their heart disease may suffer a decline in mental and neurologic abilities. Passage of small particles of fat, tissue waste and air bubbles to the brain while on the heart-lung machine is thought to be one cause for decline in mental and neurologic abilities (the function of brain) after surgery.

The purpose of this study is to determine if replacement of cardiotomy suction (one part of the heart-lung machine) with the cell-saver (a different part of the heart-lung machine) during surgery will help to prevent a decline in mental and neurologic abilities after surgery. investigating 312 patients over 2 years,patients will be assigned randomly to either cardiotomy suction or cell-saver group. Patients will be given questionnaires before surgery, 6 weeks and 1-year after surgery. These questionnaires will assess memory, attention span, the ability to concentrate and the quality of life. Patients will also have a brief neurologic exam (physical examination to check mental state, reflexes, strength, and balance) before surgery, 3-5 days after surgery, 6 weeks and 1-year after surgery to determine any changes. Cell-saver separates red blood cells from tissue waste products and fat prior to returning blood back to the patient and may reduce the negative effects of particles of fat, tissue waste and air bubbles have on the brain. Potential benefits of cell-saver device when used during surgery may prevent the decrease in memory, attention span, and the ability to concentrate resulting in improved quality of life after surgery.

Objectives: The primary aim is to determine the effect of continuous flow cell-saver on short and long term neurocognitive function after cardiac surgery, measured by precise preoperative and postoperative psychometric and neurologic testing. Hypothesis: The primary hypothesis: Continuous flow cell-saver reduces postoperative neurocognitive decline following cardiac surgery. Methodology: 312 informed and consenting patients, age \> 65 years, scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery will be prospectively enrolled over a 2-year period. Patients will be randomly allocated to either the continuous flow cell-saver or conventional cardiotomy suction (controls). Neurological history and physical exam will be completed preoperatively, discharge, 6-weeks and 1-year after surgery. Transcranial Doppler scanning will be used for intraoperative monitoring of cerebral embolic load. Transesophageal echocardiography and epiaortic scanning will be employed to account for the severity of the aortic atheroma scores. Neurocognitive testing and quality of life assessment will be conducted preoperatively , 6-weeks and 1-year after surgery. Significance: The utilization of continuous flow cell-saver may reduce the negative effects of fat particles, tissue waste and air emboli have on brain.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \> 65 years,
* elective CABG surgery
* signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe kidney (creatinine \> 2.5mg/dL and
* liver disease (bilirubin \> 2 mg/dL)
* symptomatic cerebrovascular disease
* alcoholism
* psychiatric illness
* patients who are unable to read or who have less than a 7th grade education.

Primary outcomes:
measure: The primary aim is to determine the effect of continuous flow cell-saver on short and long term neurocognitive function after cardiac surgery, measured by preoperative and postoperative psychometric and neurologic testing.
timeFrame: 1 year
Secondary outcomes:
measure: A secondary aim is to determine if the improvement in cognitive function is associated with improved quality of life after cardiac surgery.
timeFrame: 1 year
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Toronto
country: Canada
facility: Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
name: George N Djaiani, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: