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Abdominal Aortic AneurysmSAVESNCT01691911

Preconditioning Shields Against Vascular Events in Surgery

A study testing Remote preconditioning in people with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Carotid Atherosclerosis, run by Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ireland at 1 site in Ireland.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Major vascular surgery involves operations to repair swollen blood vessels, clear debris from blocked arteries or bypass blocked blood vessels. Patients with these problems are a high-risk surgical group as they have generalized blood vessel disease. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Remote preconditioning
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
200 participants
Where
1 siteIreland
Study dates
Feb 2012to Nov 2014
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age greater than 18 years
  • patient willing to give full informed consent for participation
  • Patients undergoing elective carotid endarterectomy or
  • Patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair or
  • Patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair or
  • Patients undergoing surgical lower limb revascularisation (suprainguinal or infrainguinal)

Who cannot join

  • Patients less than 18 years of age
  • Patients who are unable or unwilling to give full informed consent
  • Pregnancy
  • Significant upper limb peripheral arterial disease
  • Patients on glibenclamide or nicorandil (these medications may interfere with remote ischaemic preconditioning)
  • Patients with an estimated pre-operative glomerular filtration rate < 30mls/min/1.73m2
  • Patients with a history of myocarditis, pericarditis or amyloidosis
  • Patients undergoing Fenestrated or branched EVAR.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Ireland1 site
  • MidWestern Regional Hospital

    Limerick, Limerick, 000

Other trials in Ireland

About this study

Official title: Preconditioning Shields Against Vascular Events in Surgery. A Multi-Centre Trial of Preconditioning Against Adverse Events in Major Vascular Surgery

Major vascular surgery involves operations to repair swollen blood vessels, clear debris from blocked arteries or bypass blocked blood vessels. Patients with these problems are a high-risk surgical group as they have generalized blood vessel disease. These puts them at risk of major complications around the time of surgery such as heart attacks , strokes and death. The mortality following repair of a swollen main artery in the abdomen is about 1 in 20. This contrasts poorly with the 1 per 100 risk of death following a heart bypass. Simple and cost-effective methods are needed to reduce the risks of major vascular surgery. Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) may be such a technique. To induce RIPC, the blood supply to muscle in the patient's arm is interrupted for about 5 minutes. It is then restored for a further five minutes. This cycle is repeated three more times. The blood supply is interrupted simply by inflating a blood pressure cuff to maximum pressure. This repeated brief interruption of the muscular blood supply sends signals to critical organs such as the brain and heart, which are rendered temporarily resistant to damage from reduced blood supply. Several small randomized clinical trials in patients undergoing different types of major vascular surgery have demonstrated a potential benefit. This large, multi-centre trial aims to determine whether RIPC can reduce complications in routine practice.

Read the detailed description

The demand for major vascular surgery is increasing [1]. Patients requiring procedures such as aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, lower limb surgical re-vascularisation and major lower limb amputation for end-stage vascular disease constitute a high-risk surgical cohort. Peri-operative complications such as myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, renal failure and death are common [2,3]. Multiple potential mechanisms may result in these complications. For example, myocardial injury may result from systemic hypotension leading to reduced flow across a tight coronary artery stenosis or, alternatively, it may arise due to acute occlusion when an unstable plaque ruptures. Most strategies aimed at peri-operative risk reduction target a single potential mechanism. For example, beta-blockade may prevent myocardial injury due to overwork, but cannot prevent acute coronary occlusion. There is a requirement for a simple, effective intervention that protects tissues against injury via multiple different mechanisms. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) may be suitable.

Ischemic preconditioning is a phenomenon whereby a brief period of non-lethal ischemia in a tissue renders it resistant to the effects of a subsequent much longer ischaemic insult. It was first described in the canine heart [4]. Subsequent clinical trials showed that ischemic preconditioning reduced heart muscle damage following coronary artery bypass grafting [5] and liver dysfunction following hepatic resection [6]. Following cardiac surgery, it is associated with a reduction in critical care stay, arrhythmias and inotrope use [7]. However, ischemic preconditioning requires direct interference with the target tissues' blood supply, limiting its clinical utility. Further experimental work suggested that brief ischemia in one tissue, such as the kidneys, could confer protection on distant organs such as the heart [8]. A similar effect was observed after transient skeletal muscle ischemia [9-11]. This effect is referred to as 'preconditioning at a distance' or 'remote ischemic preconditioning' (RIPC).

Being tested
Remote preconditioning
Keywords
Vascular disease, Open aortic aneurysm repair, Endovascular aneurysm repair, Carotid endartrectomy, Lower limb surgical revascularisation, Major lower limb amputation
Medical subject headings
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal, Carotid Artery Diseases, Vascular Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Remote preconditioningProcedure or surgery

    Immediately after induction of anaesthesia, a standard, CE-approved tourniquet cuff will be placed around one arm of the patient. It will then be inflated to a pressure of 200mmHg for 5 minutes. For patients with a systolic blood pressure >185mmHg, the cuff will be inflated to at least 15mmHg above the patient's systolic blood pressure. The cuff will then be deflated and the arm allowed reperfuse for 5 minutes. This will be repeated so that each patient receives a total of 4 ischaemia-reperfusion cycles. In all other respects, the procedure and peri-operative care will follow the routine practices of the surgeons and anaesthetists involved.

Study groups in NCT01691911
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Remote preconditioningExperimentalPreconditioning will be performed in the same manner as several previous trials. Immediately after induction of anaesthesia, a standard, CE-approved blood pressure cuff will be placed around one arm of the patient. It will then be inflated to a pressure of 200mmHg for 5 minutes. For patients with a systolic blood pressure >185mmHg, the cuff will be inflated to at least 15mmHg above the patient's systolic blood pressure. The cuff will then be deflated and the arm allowed reperfuse for 5 minutes. This will be repeated so that each patient receives a total of 4 ischaemia-reperfusion cycles. In all other respects, the procedure and peri-operative care will follow the routine practices of the surgeons and anaesthetists involved.
Receives: Procedure: Remote preconditioning
Remote preconditioning controlNo interventionPatients randomised to this group will receive routine pre-operative, peri-operative and post operative care.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Major Adverse Clinical Events

    The primary endpoint for the trial will be Major Adverse Clinical Events. This is a composite endpoint comprising any of: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, new onset arrhythmia requiring treatment, cardiac arrest, congestive cardiac failure, cerebrovascular accident, renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy, mesenteric ischaemia requiring intervention or biopsy proven ischaemic colitis, urgent cardiac revascularisation. All participants will undergo a serum troponin levels and 12-lead electrocardiogram on the second post-operative day to screen for silent peri-operative myocardial infarction. Trial ECGs and troponin levels will be interpreted by a blinded trial cardiologist.

    Measured: 30 day

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Duration of post-operative hospital stay

    The duration of hospital stay and ITU stay have a major impact on health service resource utilisation, and are factors which can be influenced by surgery.

    Measured: 30 day

  2. Duration of intensive care unit stay

    The duration of hospital stay and ITU stay have a major impact on health service resource utilisation, and are factors which can be influenced by surgery.

    Measured: 30 day

  3. Unplanned critical care unit admission

    The duration of hospital stay and ITU stay have a major impact on health service resource utilisation, and are factors which can be influenced by surgery.

    Measured: 30 day

  4. Acute kidney injury score in first three peri-operative days

    The Acute Kidney Injury Score will be calculated over the first three peri-operative days. Creatinine will be measured daily as part of routine care. Urine volumes will be calculated from the fluid balance charts maintained as part of usual care.

    Measured: 3 days

  5. Peri-operative myocardial injury

    Peri-operative myocardial injury will be assessed by measurement of serum troponin levels. This will be achieved by comparing area under the curve (AUC) for serum troponin concentration over the first three post-operative days.

    Measured: from operation to 72 hours postoperatively

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Sep 2012 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2012
  3. Primary completionNov 2014
  4. Study completionNov 2014

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
200 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01691911
Sponsor's protocol ID
SAVES-123
Acronym
SAVES
Status last verified
Jun 2015
First submitted
13 Sep 2012
Last updated
3 Jun 2015
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Anderson PL, Gelijns A, Moskowitz A, Arons R, Gupta L, Weinberg A, Faries PL, Nowygrod R, Kent KC. Understanding trends in inpatient surgical volume: vascular interventions, 1980-2000. J Vasc Surg. 2004 Jun;39(6):1200-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2004.02.039.

    PubMed 15192558
  • Chambers BR, Donnan GA. Carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid stenosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Oct 19;2005(4):CD001923. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001923.pub2.

    PubMed 16235289
  • Greenhalgh RM, Brown LC, Kwong GP, Powell JT, Thompson SG; EVAR trial participants. Comparison of endovascular aneurysm repair with open repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR trial 1), 30-day operative mortality results: randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2004 Sep 4-10;364(9437):843-8. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16979-1.

    PubMed 15351191
  • Murry CE, Jennings RB, Reimer KA. Preconditioning with ischemia: a delay of lethal cell injury in ischemic myocardium. Circulation. 1986 Nov;74(5):1124-36. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.74.5.1124.

    PubMed 3769170
  • Jenkins DP, Pugsley WB, Alkhulaifi AM, Kemp M, Hooper J, Yellon DM. Ischaemic preconditioning reduces troponin T release in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Heart. 1997 Apr;77(4):314-8. doi: 10.1136/hrt.77.4.314.

    PubMed 9155608
  • Clavien PA, Selzner M, Rudiger HA, Graf R, Kadry Z, Rousson V, Jochum W. A prospective randomized study in 100 consecutive patients undergoing major liver resection with versus without ischemic preconditioning. Ann Surg. 2003 Dec;238(6):843-50; discussion 851-2. doi: 10.1097/01.sla.0000098620.27623.7d.

    PubMed 14631221
  • Walsh SR, Tang TY, Kullar P, Jenkins DP, Dutka DP, Gaunt ME. Ischaemic preconditioning during cardiac surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis of perioperative outcomes in randomised clinical trials. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2008 Nov;34(5):985-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2008.07.062. Epub 2008 Sep 9.

    PubMed 18783958
  • Przyklenk K, Bauer B, Ovize M, Kloner RA, Whittaker P. Regional ischemic 'preconditioning' protects remote virgin myocardium from subsequent sustained coronary occlusion. Circulation. 1993 Mar;87(3):893-9. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.87.3.893.

    PubMed 7680290
  • Birnbaum Y, Hale SL, Kloner RA. Ischemic preconditioning at a distance: reduction of myocardial infarct size by partial reduction of blood supply combined with rapid stimulation of the gastrocnemius muscle in the rabbit. Circulation. 1997 Sep 2;96(5):1641-6. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.96.5.1641.

    PubMed 9315559
  • Kharbanda RK, Mortensen UM, White PA, Kristiansen SB, Schmidt MR, Hoschtitzky JA, Vogel M, Sorensen K, Redington AN, MacAllister R. Transient limb ischemia induces remote ischemic preconditioning in vivo. Circulation. 2002 Dec 3;106(23):2881-3. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000043806.51912.9b.

    PubMed 12460865
  • Oxman T, Arad M, Klein R, Avazov N, Rabinowitz B. Limb ischemia preconditions the heart against reperfusion tachyarrhythmia. Am J Physiol. 1997 Oct;273(4):H1707-12. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1997.273.4.H1707.

    PubMed 9362234
  • Liang F, Liu S, Liu G, Liu H, Wang Q, Song B, Yao L. Remote ischaemic preconditioning versus no remote ischaemic preconditioning for vascular and endovascular surgical procedures. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Jan 16;1(1):CD008472. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008472.pub3.

    PubMed 36645250

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Remote preconditioning in people with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Carotid Atherosclerosis, run by Mid Western Regional Hospital, Ireland at 1 site in Ireland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jun 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Ireland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Major Adverse Clinical Events (time frame: 30 day). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01691911, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jun 2015.

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