The investigators will test the hypothesis that utilization of a blood and blood component transfusion algorithm guided by the POC Quantra QPlus System in patients undergoing complex cardiac surgery will reduce RBC, plasma, cryoprecipitate, and platelet transfusion during surgery and the first 12 postoperative hours, compared to standard of care (central laboratory transfusion monitoring at the primary anesthesia provider's discretion).
Who can participate
Age range
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
. Adults aged 18 years or more
. Scheduled for aortic surgery or high-risk cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (high-risk surgery includes reoperative surgery, active endocarditis, expected need for intraoperative circulatory arrest, radiation heart disease, end-stage kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy, combination surgery including more than one valve or valve plus CABG, low left ventricular ejection fraction \[EF\<30%\] with potential need for mechanical circulatory support with intra-aortic balloon pump, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation \[ECMO\], pulmonary thromboembolectomy or percutaneous left ventricular assist device (VAD), and planned placement of a durable left VAD with or without placement of RV assist device.
Exclusion criteria
. Preoperative diagnosis of a pre-existing coagulation or bleeding disorder
. Preoperative abnormal coagulation disorder (platelet count below 100,000/uL and/or aPTT \>40 seconds in the absence of heparin therapy. Prolonged aPTT \>40 seconds in the acceptable if due to heparin therapy.)
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.
. Liver disease, defined as a history of cirrhosis, liver enzymes \>3x normal range or manifested by elevated PT suggesting abnormal liver synthetic function not explained by other comorbidities
. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
. Refusal to accept red blood cells and blood component transfusions.
. Contraindications to proposed interventions.
. Unable to understand English as a first language or unable comprehend the study and/or the consent forms.
. Vulnerable patients including prisoners, human fetuses, and neonates