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NCT Number: NCT06511778

sTErnAl heMostasiS Trial

Sternal bleeding remains an unsolved problem for cardiac surgery teams costing operative time, blood loss, and distraction from the critical operative field. As such, the following is an investigator-initiated trial to determine whether application of a topical hemostatic agent reduces sternal bleeding during cardiac surgery using sternotomy approach.

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Key information

Conditions

Excessive Bleeding During Surgery

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

About this study

This is a prospective randomized 1:1 trial to evaluate the efficacy of the application of HEMOBLASTTM during cardiothoracic surgery to reduce the increased risk of sternal bleeding in 30 treatment and 30 control patients.

Enrollment will be open to all eligible participants undergoing cardiothoracic surgery who sign an informed consent.

The study will also collect demographic data and relevant clinical data, such as medical history, diagnosis, family history, laboratory data, radiological images and reports, and diagnostic procedure reports.

All enrolled subjects will be followed during their hospitalization until discharge for bleeding complications after their surgical procedure as well as a sternal bleeding SPOT GRADE TM score will be recorded independently by both the cardiac surgeon and assisting cardiothoracic PA-C, before and after the application of the topical hemostatic agent. There will be no restriction on the use of electrocautery or vancomycin paste as existing routine adjuncts used in cardiothoracic surgery for sternal hemostasis. Chest tube output measurements will be collected at 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The patients will be assessed at the time of hospital discharge for any complications related to sternal or intrathoracic bleeding.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients are scheduled to undergo on-pump open chest cardiothoracic surgery.
  • Patients must be willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • If the patient is of childbearing potential, they must have a negative pregnancy test within 24 hours of the index procedure.
  • Patients must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Patients have at least one of the following risk factors:
  • Undergoing redo sternotomy
  • Have a preoperative platelet count <150 mg/dL
  • Are on dual antiplatelet therapy (blood thinners) < 5 days prior to sternotomy
  • Have a BMI (body mass index)> 35
  • Are undergoing combined CABG (coronary artery bypass surgery)/valve surgery
  • Have chronic kidney disease (GFR <60 ml/min) or ESRD (end stage renal disease)

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients who undergo thoracotomy approach
  • Patients who are not deemed an appropriate candidate by the investigator.
  • Patients who are pregnant or nursing, or who plan to become pregnant during the course of this study.

Treatment and study plan

Hemoblast Bellows application

Drug

Hemoblast bellows is a hemostatic agent clinically proven effective on the validated SPOT GRADE scale for minimal, mild, and moderate bleeding. Patients will have the Hemoblast bellows applied during on pump sternotomy surgery.

Primary outcomes

  1. Sternal Bleeding Score

    Time frame: Sternotomy creation

    A sternal bleeding score will be performed independently by surgeon and physician assistant utilizing the SPOT GRADE bleeding scale ranging from 0-5. 0 (no bleeding), 1 (minimal bleeding), 2 (mild bleeding), 3 (moderate bleeding), 4 (severe bleeding), 5 (extreme bleeding) before and after hemostatic agent application

  2. Sternal Bleeding Score

    Time frame: Sternal closure

    A sternal bleeding score will be performed independently by surgeon and physician assistant utilizing the SPOT GRADE bleeding scale ranging from 0-5. 0 (no bleeding), 1 (minimal bleeding), 2 (mild bleeding), 3 (moderate bleeding), 4 (severe bleeding), 5 (extreme bleeding)

  3. Reoperation for Bleeding

    Time frame: Through hospitalization, average of 6 days

    Patients will be monitored for incidences of reoperation due to bleeding

  4. Chest Tube Output

    Time frame: 6 hours postoperatively

    The patient's chest tube output will be recorded after surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Chest Tube Output

    Time frame: 12 and 24 hours postoperatively

    The patient's chest tube output will be recorded after surgery

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

WakeMed Health and Hospitals

Other

Collaborators

  • Dilon Technologies

Registry information

Official study title

sTErnAl heMostasiS Trial (TEAMS Trial)

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 22, 2024
Registry last updated
Sep 11, 2025

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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