Active clinical trials for "Heart Defects, Congenital"

The purpose of the study is to determine whether it is possible to manage the flow of blood through blood vessels using varying levels of carbon dioxide during cardiac surgery, and what effect this has on how well the major organs of the body work.

This study aims to examine performance on a neurological screening test, the Dubowitz, and sleep wake cycles on amplitude integrated electroencephalogram (AEEG) in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) as a way to potentially predict longterm motor outcome. It will compare the results of these studies to neonates without CHD.

Rationale: The prevalence of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has steadily increased over the last decades, due to the advances in cardiac surgery. A large number of these patients cope with right ventricular (RV) volume or pressure overload, largely caused by residual lesions after cardiac surgery in childhood. Previous RV overload due to pulmonary regurgitation in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) can lead to RV dysfunction. These findings warrant close surveillance of RV function, and adequate and evidence-based pharmacological therapy to reduce both morbidity and mortality in this young patient group. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in patients with ventricular failure, irrespective of the effected (left or right) ventricle. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB's) are drugs which act as inhibitors of RAAS. Previously, large trials have demonstrated the beneficial effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on morbidity and mortality in patients with acquired left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. ARB's have a similar effect as ACE inhibitors in patients with acquired LV dysfunction but discontinuation because of side effects such as cough is less frequent. In TOF patients with RV overload due to pulmonary regurgitation, pulmonary valve replacement leads to a decrease in RV size and pulmonary regurgitation. Current guidelines advise empiric use of RAAS inhibitors for right ventricular dysfunction in adult patients with congenital heart disease. However, the actual effect of RAAS inhibition on right ventricular dysfunction in adult TOF patients without severe valvular lesions has not been sufficiently investigated. Therefore, we set-up the proposed study, and hypothesize that ARB's have a beneficial effect on RV ejection fraction in adult TOF patients with RV dysfunction without severe valvular lesions. Objective: to improve RV ejection fraction in adult TOF patients with RV dysfunction without severe valvular lesions. Study design: a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Follow up two years Study population: adult patients with Tetralogy of Fallot with right ventricular dysfunction, defined as right ventricular ejection fraction < 50% and without severe valvular lesions Intervention: patients are randomized to receive either losartan 150 mg once daily, or placebo in the same regimen. Main study parameters/endpoints: the primary endpoint is difference in change in RV ejection fraction, determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), between the treatment and the control group at two years follow-up. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: All investigations, except blood analysis, are non-invasive and free of risk. The burden for the patients mainly consists of the time that is consumed by the visits to the clinic. At these visits time will be consumed by: history taking and physical investigation (15 minutes); quality of life score (15 minutes); laboratory tests (6 times venopuncture, total amount of blood withdrawn approximately 90ml). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (1hour), echocardiography (15 minutes) and CMR (45 minutes) are part of regular medical care. Adverse effects from losartan are usually limited and consist of dizziness due to hypotension, renal impairment, hyperkalemia and liver impairment. We expect no change or an increase in RV function in the intervention group compared to the control group over the two-year follow up period, which would be a great benefit for this young study population.

The goal of this study is to evaluate specific hormone levels in children undergoing heart surgery in order to identify patterns associated with any unstable vital signs. The data collected will provide preliminary answers to the question "Are hormone values a determining factor for drug administration and dosing levels?" and help establish the benefits of routine steroid and hormone administration. Sixty subjects will be enrolled. Blood samples will be drawn before the surgery,and again nine hours after surgery for analysis. Other patient data such as medications, vital signs, routine lab values and treatments will also be analyzed. As our current standard of care includes routine doses of steroids, we believe this study will increase our general knowledge and improve the care of these critically ill children. The study will also provide the foundation needed for grant support from the American Heart Association, allowing for future larger scale studies.

A prospective single arm study evaluating feasibility and safety of a catheter-based transapical implantation of the Ventor Embracer™ aortic valve bioprosthesis in patients with severe aortic valve disease, specifically aortic stenosis, who are at elevated risk for standard surgical valve replacement.

Children with congenital heart defects have shown to develop motor coordinative deficiencies. In this study we want to show that a motor pedagogic physical training can improve the coordinative capabilities of children aged 4-6 years.

The main purpose of this study is to compare myocardial injury of patients undergoing congenital cardiac defects repair surgery (RACHS Risk Score one, two or three) under total intravenous anesthesia compared to inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the troponin I levels in patients following congenital heart surgery and elucidate if one of the two anesthetic techniques (TIVA x inhalation anesthesia) is more effective in reducing troponin I levels in the first 72h after surgery.. Sixty six are planned to be included in the study and the follow-up will take approximately 3 days for the primary outcome. As a secondary outcome evaluate the BNP, CPK and CKMB postoperative levels in the same period (72h), also ICU and hospital lengh of stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation, inotropic/vasoactive drugs use and incidence of renal injury (according to pediatric RIFLE score).

Valved conduits used for the reconstruction of right-ventricular outflow tract are applied in the surgical repair of complex congenital heart disease(CHD) such as pulmonary atresia(PA), truncus arteriosus, severe tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) for their significant roles in reducing pulmonary valve regurgitation and preserving right ventricle function. With a rising cases of complex CHD and patients with pulmonary valve regurgitation in TOF repair, a further demand is underway for valved conduits. Meanwhile, common biological valved conduits applied in foreign countries are not approved in China yet, with high failure and reintervention, reducing the long-term survival. Our team manufactured a novel valved conduit with 0.1mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and gore-tex conduit. This ePTFE valved conduit played a satisfying role in anti-regurgitation and failure rate through in vitro fluid test and animal experiments. Besides, our team manufactured templates for the conduit and also simplified the suturing process so that the repeatability of suturing valved had been risen. Until now, over 70 cases have been implanted with this ePTFE valved conduit with positive early and mid-term follow-up results. Despite the progress which have been made, there still remain some problems to solve. First, systematic prospective randomized comparative study will be performed. Second, this is just a single-center study. Third, these patients should have longer follow-up time to evaluate the ePTFE conduit long-term effect. Finally, imaging data are blank for evaluating the function of the conduit and right ventricle. In this prospective comparative research, the new designed ePTFE valved conduit and bovine jugular vein valved conduits are conducted as a randomized controlled trail. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is used to precisely evaluate the anti-regurgitation effect of the valved conduit and the right ventricle function. Investigators can further access the application of this newly designed ePTFE valved conduit. Investigators aim to provide a self-manufactured, low failure rate valved conduit.

A single patient observational trial to evaluate growth velocity and clinical outcomes of an infant status post cardiac surgery who has failed to grow well and demonstrated intolerance to cow milk-based and elemental formulas and fortifiers on a 100% human milk diet including a human milk based human milk fortifier formulated for term infants fluid restricted due to surgically correctable congenital conditions.

The study aims to test whether platelet transfusion or fibrinogen concentrate is the most effective treatment of intraoperative bleeding, when performing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass on children with congenital heart defects.