Assessing the Hemodynamic Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Children Following Ope… (NCT00397514) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Assessing the Hemodynamic Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Children Following Open-Heart Surgery
Canada34 participantsStarted 2006-10
Plain-language summary
Malformations of the heart (congenital heart disease) are the most common congenital birth defects, occurring in about 1% of children. Each year, between 150-200 children will undergo open heart surgery at British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) to repair the defect(s) in their heart. The abnormal structure of the heart or the open heart surgery may cause damage to the electrical system of the heart which can disturb the rhythm of the heart (arrhythmias), prolong recovery or be life-threatening. For this reason, temporary pacing wires are placed in the heart following surgery to ensure the heart rhythm is as normal as possible during the post-operative period (pacing). In recent years, scientists have recognized that pacing the heart from one area is not necessarily the same as pacing it from a different area. In fact, in some individuals with arrhythmias and poor heart function, pacing the heart from different areas can improve the pumping of the heart, resulting in better heart function. This form of treatment is called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) because it endeavours to optimize the pumping of the heart by changing the electrical activation of the heart. CRT has been used to a very limited extent in children. A few pediatric cardiologists have used CRT to help children who are in heart failure. We would like to determine whether pacing the heart from different areas after open heart surgery improves the child's heart function and aids his or her recovery.
Who can participate
Age range
1 Week – 18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects will be eligible for enrollment in this study if they are undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for right or left ventricular surgery or biventricular surgery and (1) have intra-cardiac conduction delay or bundle branch block post-surgery; (2) have echocardiographic evidence of ventricular dyssynchrony; (3) have pre-existing conduction disease or bundle branch block; or (4) have pre-existing ventricular dyssynchrony.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects will be excluded if they: (1) have single ventricle morphology; (2) require post-operative ECMO; (3) have sustained atrial or ventricular arrhythmias that may complicate ventricular pacing; (4) are not able to have functioning epicardial pacemaker leads; (5) are, in the opinion of the intensivist, cardiologist or surgeon, not stable enough medically to participate in the study; or (6) are unwilling to provide informed consent or assent.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Cardiac Index
Timeframe: Baseline and after 20 minutes of pacing