CompletedPhase 4

South African Paediatric Surgical Outcomes Study 2

South Africa755 participantsStarted 2023-02-09

Plain-language summary

Preoperative anaemia has been shown to be associated with worse outcomes after surgery in both adults and children. Limited research has been done on how common preoperative iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) is in children and how best to treat it. Oral iron is a relatively cost-effective treatment for IDA. This study aims to show whether giving children with IDA oral iron for 6-12 weeks before their surgery significantly improves their haemoglobin.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Months – 16 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: * Age \> 6 months to \<16 years * Noncardiac surgery * Elective surgery * Anaemic as per World Health Organisation criteria Exclusion Criteria: * Patient or parent refusal * Unable to obtain written consent at the surgical outpatient clinic * Surgery planned within 4 weeks from surgical outpatient visit * Known history of acquired iron overload, family history of haemochromatosis or thalassemia * Known reason for anaemia (e.g., untreated vitamin B12 or folate deficiency or haemoglobinopathy) * Treatment with oral iron, erythropoietin, IV iron therapy or blood transfusion in the previous 12 weeks * Known hypersensitivity to oral iron or other contraindication to oral iron * Temperature \> 38.0 °C or receiving non-prophylactic antibiotics * Acute liver failure

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

Delta Haemoglobin = Change in haemoglobin pre- and post- oral iron supplementation

Timeframe: 4-12 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05681871

SponsorUniversity of Cape Town

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-05-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Paediatric Surgery trials