Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning for myocardial protection in young children undergoing heart surgery: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial in normoxic and hypoxic patients
Intermediate Clinical Research Fellow Mr Nigel Drury is finding out if a simple technique can help protect heart muscle in children having open heart surgery. Stopping the heart temporarily whilst on a heart-lung machine during surgery can damage the heart muscle. And children with congenital heart conditions that cause low blood oxygen may be at greater risk of heart injury. Researchers have found that using a blood pressure cuff to restrict blood flow to one or more limbs for short periods immediately before surgery may protect the heart. This is called remote ischaemic preconditioning, or RIPC. In this project, Mr Drury will carry out a clinical trial in young children undergoing surgery for two common congenital heart conditions, tetralogy of Fallot and ventricular septal defect (VSD). He will find out if the RIPC technique can protect the heart. Changes in the way heart cells make energy (heart metabolism) during surgery may account for some of the damage to heart muscle, Mr Drury will analyse blood and heart muscle samples taken during surgery to find out if there is a difference in heart metabolism between children with normal or low blood oxygen levels, and whether the blood pressure cuff technique makes a difference. This research will reveal if the simple and inexpensive blood pressure cuff technique can protect children’s hearts during surgery.
Project details
| Grant amount | £778,229 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Fellowships |
| Application type | Intermediate Clinical Research Fellowship |
| Start Date | 01 January 2016 |
| Duration | 6 years |
| Reference | FS/15/49/31612 |
| Status | In Progress |
