VICTOR Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Vasoplegia following Cardiothoracic Operations (VICTOR) study
IRAS ID
214938
Contact name
Adrian Mellor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Post-operative vasoplegic syndrome (PVS) is common after cardiac surgery with a published incidence of 8-26% (Sun, Zhang et al. 2008). PVS is associated with heart failure and poor left ventricular function (Mekontso-Dessap, Houel et al. 2001) and patients developing the condition are at greater risk of requiring blood products and death or other major complications (Fischer and Levin 2010). Successful treatment of PVS with vasopressin has been reported (Argenziano, Choudhri et al. 1997, Morales, Gregg et al. 2000) and is established in practice. The use of vasopressors and synthetic vasopressin commonplace in our unit (50% of patients in JCUH require noradrenaline with 5% overall requiring the addition of synthetic vasopressin). Recent increases in the cost of synthetic vasopressin (argipressin) has increased drug costs from £1500 per annum on our unit to £15000 (25% of the CICU drug budget) making this an important economic issue as well as having potential to improve patient outcomes following cardiac surgery.
This study aims to assess the relationship of a precursor of arginine vasopressin, copeptin, thought to be associated with developing PVS, via a simple blood test. This should help identify those at risk of developing PVS, and therefore aid treatment, and inform towards a larger study as to optimal timings of treatment in this patient group.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0034
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jan 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion