Birmingham Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in Children trial

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Remote Ischaemic Preconditioning for myocardial protection in young children undergoing heart surgery: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial in normoxic and hypoxic patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital – the Birmingham Remote Ischaemic Conditioning in Children (BRICC) trial.

• IRAS ID

  200876

• Contact name

  Sean Jennings

• Contact email

  researchgovernance@contacts.bham.ac.uk

• ISRCTN Number

  ISRCTN12923441

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 7 months, 17 days

• Research summary

  During open heart surgery, it is necessary to stop the heart temporarily, whilst on a
  heart-lung machine, which may cause damage to the heart muscle. Children with low oxygen levels in their blood, sometime called ‘blue babies’, may be more at risk of heart injury. Previous studies have found that using a blood pressure cuff to stop blood flow to one or more limbs (arm and/or legs) for short periods immediately prior to surgery may better protect the heart. This technique is a simple, safe and inexpensive method for heart protection. We will conduct a trial in young children undergoing surgery for two common heart conditions, Tetralogy of Fallot and Ventricular Septal Defect, to determine whether this technique improves heart protection in all or just some children. We will also analyse blood and muscle samples obtained during surgery to measure if there is a difference in how the heart cells make energy between children with normal or low blood oxygen levels and whether this is affected by using the blood pressure cuff technique.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/WM/0309

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Aug 2016

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion