Assessment of the Efficacy of the First Aspirin Dose in Children Undergoing Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Who Require Post-operative Antiplatelet Therapy

The use of heparin and aspirin for their respective anticoagulation and antiplatelet effects is routine in intensive care units around the country and world in children who have undergone surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) who are at risk for thrombosis after repair. Most common protocols recommend heparin infusions after surgery with transition to oral aspirin when oral intake begins. Patients at risk for thrombosis after congenital heart surgery requiring long-term antiplatelet therapy include those undergoing shunt placement for single-ventricle palliation or establishment of pulmonary blood flow, valve replacements, or coronary artery manipulation. Post-operative thrombosis after congenital heart surgery is rare, but thrombosis can result in death. The routine use of aspirin in these patients is intended to prevent the potentially catastrophic consequences of thrombosis. However, there is no routine clinical assessment of the platelet inhibitory effect of aspirin; nor have there been any prospective studies to assess the effectiveness of aspirin's antiplatelet effect in children after congenital heart surgery. No data exists to suggest that the first dose of aspirin transition from heparin infusion is either sufficient or insufficient in its antiplatelet effect.

In this study, the investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of the first aspirin dose in its antiplatelet effects after surgery for congenital heart disease. Degree of antiplatelet effect will be evaluated with thromboelastograph (TEG) and TEG-platelet mapping study analysis. Thromboelastography is a clinical laboratory method of assessing whole blood hemostasis and allows for assessment of clot formation, strength, and stability. TEG is most commonly used in patients at risk for bleeding or thrombosis and also to monitor antiplatelet therapies (such as aspirin).

The investigators hypothesize: the first dose of aspirin transitioned from heparin infusion after congenital heart surgery is sufficient in its antiplatelet effect as tested by TEG and TEG-platelet mapping studies. Confirmation of the antiplatelet effect of aspirin will help support the current practice of empiric aspirin therapy to prevent post-operative thrombosis in children after congenital heart surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Congenital Heart Disease Cardiovascular Abnormalities Cardiovascular Diseases Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Heart Defects, Congenital Heart Diseases

Age range

Up to 18 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age 0-18
Undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease requiring oral antiplatelet therapy

Exclusion criteria

Strict: personal or family history of bleeding/clotting disorder, patients requiring anticoagulation rather than antiplatelet therapy after surgery.
Relative: patients with significant post-operative bleeding precluding the use of anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy within the first 48-72 hours (eg. clinical instability preventing the initiation of oral aspirin therapy), patients requiring additional fresh platelet transfusion after the initiation of post-operative heparin infusion.

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Full platelet inhibition with aspirin 4-hours after surgery compared to prior to surgery

Time frame: 4-hours after first aspirin dose

We will obtain thromboelastograph and thromboelastograph-platelet mapping studies at 4 time points: (1) prior to surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, (2) 24-hours prior to the first aspirin dose, (3) 4-hours after the first aspirin dose, (4) 24-hours after the first aspirin dose (prior to the second).

Primary Outcome measure will compare the first-postoperative TEG/TEG-platelet mapping results (4-hours after surgery) to the pre-operative TEG/TEG-platelet mapping results (prior to surgery)

Secondary outcomes

Full platelet inhibition at 24-hours if not achieved by 4-hours after aspirin administration

Time frame: 24-hours after first aspirin dose (prior to second)

We will obtain thromboelastograph and thromboelastograph-platelet mapping studies at 4 time points: (1) prior to surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, (2) 24-hours prior to the first aspirin dose, (3) 4-hours after the first aspirin dose, (4) 24-hours after the first aspirin dose (prior to the second).

Secondary outcome will compare 24-hour TEG/TEG-platelet mapping to 4-hour TEG/TEG-platelet mapping after surgery

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Assessment of Efficacy of the First Aspirin Dose in Children Undergoing Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Who Require Post-operative Antiplatelet Therapy; Evaluated by Thromboelastograph (TEG) Analysis and TEG-platelet Mapping

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2015
Study completion: 2015
First posted: Feb 17, 2014
Registry last updated: Jul 11, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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