Transfusion Reduction in High-Bleeding-Risk Cardiac Surgery With Desmopressin
REDES-BLEED
Reducing Point-of-Care Transfusion Requirements With Prolonged Desmopressin in High-Bleeding-Risk Cardiac Surgery: A Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial (REDES-BLEED)
1 other identifier
interventional
112
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Rationale Bleeding after cardiac surgery is a complication that might result in increased morbidity, mortality, and cost of cardiac surgery by 1.76 (confidence interval (CI), 1.64-1.90) times and a median increase in costs by Australian $33,338 (CI, $21,943-$38,415) \[1\]. Strategies and techniques to reduce postoperative bleeding in identified high-risk patients for bleeding after cardiac surgery might improve outcomes and resource utilization. Desmopressin (DDAVP) is used as a hemostatic agent to prevent and treat bleeding in patients with mild hemophilia patients with von Willebrand's deficiency through stimulating the release of von Willebrand factor from endothelial cells. Previous studies showed controversial results in terms of reduced transfusion requirements in patients with low risk for bleeding with post cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) bleeding following prophylactic infusing desmopressin over 10 to 15 minutes after induction of anesthesia or protamine administration due to its positive effects on the coagulation system responsible for such bleeding. Contradictory, prophylactic desmopressin use demonstrated fewer transfusion requirements in patients treated with antiplatelets, which raises the need to examine its efficacy in high-risk cardiac surgery patients for perioperative bleeding. These controversial results might be attributed to delayed administration of desmopressin after evolving CPB-associated thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, coagulation factor consumption and dilution, hyperfibrinolysis, and hypofibrinogenemia \[2\] Concerns were raised about the associated transient decreases in systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure after desmopressin administration following discontinuing CPB and administering protamine, which might be related to the rapid infusion rate during the critical surgery stage. The cost of a single dose of Desmopressin 0.3 ug/kg for a patient with an average weight of 70 Kg is about 82US$ which is cheaper than the alternative hemostatic agents proved to be effective in reducing bleeding and transfusion needs after cardiac surgery (e.g., fibrinogen concrete (average of 3 g = 1,167US$) and prothrombin complex concentrate (6,255US$ considering low fixed dosfixed-doseof 1040 IU F IX). It is yet unclear if extended infusions of desmopressin started earlier before the development of CPB-associated coagulopathy and platelets dysfunction from anesthesia induction time and continued to the end of CPB before protamine administration would offer an "efficacy," "safety, and "cost-effective" benefits over placebo in patients with high risks for bleeding after cardiac surgery terms of the need for transfusion, cumulative postoperative 48-hour chest tube outputs, need for reoperation, thrombotic complications, 30-day mortality, hemodynamic stability, and urine output during and after completing infusion, and costs of the study drug and allogenic transfusion requirement. That raises the need to examine its impact on these crucial clinical outcomes. Objective The primary objective of this prospective multicentre randomized clinical trial (RCT) is, compared with placebo, to examine the impact of prolonged infusion desmopressin on reducing postoperative bleeding and the need for allogenic allogeneic transfusion in high-bleeding-risk cardiac surgery patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgical procedures using CPB. Secondary objectives include comparing placebo and desmopressin in terms of safety and cost-effectiveness. Hypothesis It is hypothesized that extended 'desmopressin' infusion compared to 'placebo' results in less postoperative bleeding and transfusion needs (more effective) and leads to less hemodynamic compromise (safer) and cheaper (cost-effective) in high-risk cardiac surgery patients.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for phase_3
Started Jul 2025
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
June 1, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 10, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 1, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 1, 2027
June 10, 2025
June 1, 2025
2 years
June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Cumulative 48-hour postoperative bleeding
The primary outcome is the cumulative 48-hour postoperative bleeding, defined as the sum of estimated intraoperative salvaged blood and blood loss and postoperative chest tube output for 48 hours from surgery. Intraoperative blood loss was calculated from the total volume in suction bottles (minus the volume of irrigating solution), weighed sponges, and the volume collected in the Cell-Saver reservoir (minus the volume of anticoagulant solution). After the chest is closed, hourly postoperative blood loss will be calculated from the chest tubes and drain reservoirs.
Intraoperative and for 48 hours after surgery
Secondary Outcomes (28)
The need for allogenic PRBCs transfusion
For 7 days after surgery
The need for allogenic transfusion of fresh frozen plasma
For the first 7 days after surgery
The need for allogenic individual and pooled platelet units
For the first 7 days after surgery
The need for allogenic cryoprecipitates units
For the first 7 days after surgery
The need for Recombinant Factor VIII administration
For the first 7 days after surgery
- +23 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Placebo
PLACEBO COMPARATORBefore induction of anesthesia, patients will receive identical and similar clear study solutions in similar size transparent 50-cc bags, including Saline will be infused over five hours at a rate of 10 ml/hr. The local pharmacists who will not be involved in patients' care or data collection will prepare the study solution.
Desmopressin
ACTIVE COMPARATORBefore induction of anesthesia, patients will receive identical and similar clear study solutions in similar size transparent 50-cc bags, including Desmopressin 0.3 ug/kg of the patient's body weight will be infused over five hours at a rate of 10 ml/hr. The local pharmacists who will not be involved in patients' care or data collection will prepare the study solution.
Interventions
Before induction of anesthesia, patients will receive identical and similar clear study solutions in similar size transparent 50-cc bags, including Saline will be infused over five hours at a rate of 10 ml/hr. The local pharmacists who will not be involved in patients' care or data collection will prepare the study solution.
Before induction of anesthesia, patients will receive identical and similar clear study solutions in similar size transparent 50-cc bags, including Desmopressin 0.3 ug/kg of the patient's body weight will be infused over five hours at a rate of 10 ml/hr. The local pharmacists who will not be involved in patients' care or data collection will prepare the study solution.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adult 18 years or older.
- Scheduled for any type of elective cardiac surgery.
- Using CPB.
- General anesthesia is provided in an endotracheally intubated patient.
- A high risk of postoperative bleeding is defined as any of the following \[21-23\];
- Redo or repeated surgery.
- Treatment with platelet P2Y12 receptor--inhibiting drugs was discontinued for 7 days (ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and prasugrel) or 5 days (ticagrelor).
- Any known coagulation disorders.
- Hypofibrinogenemia less than 150 mg/dl.
- Platelet count \<100.000 cells/μL.
- Chronic renal failure, whether dialysis-dependent or not.
- Liver cell failure Child-Pugh class B or C or the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) \>=29
- Infective endocarditis.
- Acute type-A aortic dissection.
- Expected surgery with CPB time longer than 150 minutes.
- +1 more criteria
You may not qualify if:
- Planned for cardiac surgery without CPB;
- Planned for a combined coronary revascularization surgery and a valve or intra-cardiac surgery;
- Pregnancy;
- Consent for another interventional study during anesthesia;
- No written informed consent;
- Preoperative need for mechanical circulatory support;
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Imam Abdulrahamn Bin Faisal University (Former, Dammam University)
Dammam, Eastern Province, 31952, Saudi Arabia
Related Publications (25)
Redfern RE, Fleming K, March RL, Bobulski N, Kuehne M, Chen JT, Moront M. Thrombelastography-Directed Transfusion in Cardiac Surgery: Impact on Postoperative Outcomes. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 May;107(5):1313-1318. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.01.018. Epub 2019 Feb 12.
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PMID: 21094051BACKGROUNDPetricevic M, Petricevic M, Pasalic M, Golubic Cepulic B, Raos M, Vasicek V, Goerlinger K, Rotim K, Gasparovic H, Biocina B. Bleeding risk stratification in coronary artery surgery: the should-not-bleed score. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2021 Apr 21;16(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s13019-021-01473-3.
PMID: 33882969BACKGROUNDBaryshnikova E, Di Dedda U, Ranucci M. Are Viscoelastic Tests Clinically Useful to Identify Platelet-Dependent Bleeding in High-Risk Cardiac Surgery Patients? Anesth Analg. 2022 Dec 1;135(6):1198-1206. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000006231. Epub 2022 Oct 13.
PMID: 36227767BACKGROUNDOrlov D, McCluskey SA, Callum J, Rao V, Moreno J, Karkouti K. Utilization and Effectiveness of Desmopressin Acetate After Cardiac Surgery Supplemented With Point-of-Care Hemostatic Testing: A Propensity-Score-Matched Analysis. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2017 Jun;31(3):883-895. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2016.11.022. Epub 2016 Nov 17.
PMID: 28169116BACKGROUNDDias JD, Sauaia A, Achneck HE, Hartmann J, Moore EE. Thromboelastography-guided therapy improves patient blood management and certain clinical outcomes in elective cardiac and liver surgery and emergency resuscitation: A systematic review and analysis. J Thromb Haemost. 2019 Jun;17(6):984-994. doi: 10.1111/jth.14447. Epub 2019 May 13.
PMID: 30947389BACKGROUNDFleming NW, Burke TA. Infusion rate and hemodynamics with desmopressin. J Cardiothorac Anesth. 1989 Dec;3(6):813-5. doi: 10.1016/s0888-6296(89)96804-x. No abstract available.
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PMID: 1863724BACKGROUND16. Spyridakis, E., Pentilas, N., Retzios, G., Pappa, E., & Kalakonas, S. (2017). The use of desmopressin (DDAVP) as haemostatic agent in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 31, S69.https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2017.02.153
BACKGROUNDMarquez J, Koehler S, Strelec SR, Benckart DH, Spero JA, Cottington EM, Torpey DJ Jr. Repeated dose administration of desmopressin acetate in uncomplicated cardiac surgery: a prospective, blinded, randomized study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1992 Dec;6(6):674-6. doi: 10.1016/1053-0770(92)90049-d.
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PMID: 1863726BACKGROUNDOliver WC Jr, Santrach PJ, Danielson GK, Nuttall GA, Schroeder DR, Ereth MH. Desmopressin does not reduce bleeding and transfusion requirements in congenital heart operations. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000 Dec;70(6):1923-30. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(00)02176-7.
PMID: 11156096BACKGROUNDReich DL, Hammerschlag BC, Rand JH, Weiss-Bloom L, Perucho H, Galla J, Thys DM. Desmopressin acetate is a mild vasodilator that does not reduce blood loss in uncomplicated cardiac surgical procedures. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1991 Apr;5(2):142-5. doi: 10.1016/1053-0770(91)90327-p.
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PMID: 2521029BACKGROUNDDilthey G, Dietrich W, Spannagl M, Richter JA. Influence of desmopressin acetate on homologous blood requirements in cardiac surgical patients pretreated with aspirin. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1993 Aug;7(4):425-30. doi: 10.1016/1053-0770(93)90164-g.
PMID: 8400098BACKGROUNDHackmann T, Naiman SC. Con: desmopressin is not of value in the treatment of post-cardiopulmonary bypass bleeding. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 1991 Jun;5(3):290-3. doi: 10.1016/1053-0770(91)90291-z.
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PMID: 1863750BACKGROUND7. Casselman FPA, Lance MD, Ahmed A, Ascari A, Blanco-Morillo J, Bolliger D, Eid M, Erdoes G, Haumann RG, Jeppsson A, van der Merwe HJ, Ortmann E, Petricevic M, Weltert LP, Milojevic M; EACTS/EACTAIC/EBCP Scientific Document Group. 2024 EACTS/EACTAIC Guidelines on patient blood management in adult cardiac surgery in collaboration with EBCP. Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2024 Oct 10:ivae170. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivae170. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39385501.
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PMID: 24876232BACKGROUNDNewcomb AE, Dignan R, McElduff P, Pearse EJ, Bannon P. Bleeding After Cardiac Surgery Is Associated With an Increase in the Total Cost of the Hospital Stay. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Apr;109(4):1069-1078. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.11.019. Epub 2020 Jan 2.
PMID: 31904370BACKGROUND
Study Officials
- STUDY CHAIR
Mohamed R El Tahan, MD
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Fahad Makhdoum, MD
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
- STUDY DIRECTOR
Yasser F ElGhoneimy, MD
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 3
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Masking Details
- Further minimization of bias will be achieved by involving two independent investigators. The researcher who is not responsible for providing anesthesia or performing surgery will perform the Randomization directly before the start of anesthesia. A second investigator, blinded for the randomization arm, will record the primary and secondary postoperative outcome measures.
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Consultant in Cardiac Anesthesia
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
June 1, 2025
First Posted
June 10, 2025
Study Start
July 1, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2027
Last Updated
June 10, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
- Time Frame
- Beginning six months after publication and for a period of five years.
- Access Criteria
- Data access will be granted following review and approval of a research proposal and the signing of a data access agreement. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author.
The study database will be locked upon completion of data entry and resolution of all discrepancies or missing data, or when the investigators determine that no further resolution is feasible despite reasonable efforts. Prior to locking, a final review of the database will be conducted. Once locked, the dataset will be exported for statistical analysis. De-identified individual participant data (IPD), the study protocol, and statistical analysis plan will be made available upon reasonable request from qualified researchers beginning six months after publication and for a period of five years. Data access will be granted following review and approval of a research proposal and the signing of a data access agreement. Requests should be directed to the corresponding author.