Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution for Cardiac Surgery

(ANH Trial)

This trial tests a method called acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) to reduce the need for blood transfusions during heart surgery. ANH involves removing some of a patient's blood before surgery and returning it afterward, which may improve blood clotting and conserve blood. Patients planning elective heart surgery who can safely have a certain amount of blood withdrawn might be suitable for this study. The goal is to determine if ANH can reduce the number of transfusions by 20%. Success could improve blood management in heart surgeries worldwide. As an unphased trial, this study allows patients to contribute to innovative blood management strategies that could enhance surgical outcomes globally.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Research has shown that acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is generally safe for patients undergoing heart surgery. In a study with over 1,000 patients, those who underwent ANH experienced similar safety outcomes to those who did not. Specifically, the number of deaths within 30 days or during the hospital stay was very low, at about 1.4% for patients in the ANH group.

Another study examined nearly 17,000 patients, with ANH used in a smaller portion of them. This large group demonstrates that ANH is well-tolerated by most patients.

Researchers are excited about acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) for cardiac surgery because it offers a unique approach to managing blood loss. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on blood transfusions, ANH involves withdrawing and storing a patient's own blood before surgery and then reinfusing it afterward. This method reduces the need for donor blood, minimizing the risk of transfusion-related complications and conserving blood resources. Additionally, by maintaining a patient's blood volume with their own blood, this technique aims to improve overall surgical outcomes and recovery.

This trial will compare acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) with standard care in cardiac surgery. Research has shown that ANH does not significantly reduce the need for blood transfusions in heart surgery patients. Specifically, studies found that ANH did not decrease the number of patients needing transfusions during or after surgery. Another report confirmed these findings, showing no significant drop in transfusion rates with ANH. Although ANH has been used for many years, current evidence does not support its effectiveness in reducing transfusions in this setting. Therefore, the impact of ANH on saving blood during heart surgery remains uncertain based on existing data.¹²³⁶⁷