Association of Microcirculation, Vexus Score and Femoral Vein Doppler in Patients on the ICU After Non-emergency Cardiac Surgery

NCT07052461 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-00579; am24Siegemund
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the VeMic study is to explore if venous congestion is linked with microcirculatory impairment in elective cardiac surgery patients in the postoperative ICU stay.

Conditions

Venous Congestion; Postoperative Cardiac Surgery; Fluid Management; Microcirculatory Convection Capacity; Microcirculatory Diffusion; Haemodynamic Coherence

Keywords

vexus score; femoral vein doppler; intensive care unit

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Difference in red blood cell velocity: concested vs non-congested

  Difference in red blood cell velocity (RBCv) between patients grouped as congested (Vexus score of 2 and 3) vs. non-congested (Vexus score of 0 and 1).

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference in total vessel density: concested vs non-congested

  Difference in total vessel density (TVD) between patients grouped as congested (Vexus score of 2 and 3) vs. non-congested (Vexus score of 0 and 1).

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference in red blood cell velocity: physiologic femoral vein flow vs. pulsatile pattern

  Difference in red blood cell velocity (RBCv) between patients with a physiologic femoral vein flow vs. pulsatile pattern

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference in total vessel density between patients with a physiologic femoral vein flow vs. pulsatile pattern

  Difference in total vessel density (TVD) between patients with a physiologic femoral vein flow vs. pulsatile pattern

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Difference in RBCv between patients with different Vexus scores

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference inTVD between patients with different Vexus scores

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference in microcirculatory reserve capacity: congested non-congested

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

• Difference in microcirculatory reserve capacity: physiologic femoral vein flow vs. pulsatile patern

  3 measurements:T0 prior surgery, T1 first post-operative day, T2 6 hours after T1

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients presenting for elective or urgent cardiac surgery. Urgent patients are defined as patients who have not been electively admitted for operation but who require intervention or surgery on the current admission for medical reasons. These patients cannot be sent home without a definitive procedure but do not require immediate emergency surgery.

You may qualify if:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Elective or urgent (need for definitive procedure during hospitalisation, but not emergency intervention) cardiac surgery

You may not qualify if:

• Age \< 18 years
• Pregnant women
• Known severe chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate \<15 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or dialysis)
• Renal or liver transplantation
• Any known condition interfering with Doppler evaluation of the portal system (including known or suspected cirrhosis or portal vein thrombosis or huge abdominal emphysema).
• Inability to consent to study
• Emergency cardiac surgery

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Hospital Basel

Basel, 4031, Switzerland

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hyperemia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases

Study Officials

• Martin Siegemund, Prof. MD

  University Hospital of Basel

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Gregor Loosen,, MD

CONTACT

+41 61 328 40 90; gregormichael.loosen@usb.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2025
• First Posted: July 4, 2025
• Study Start: April 14, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2027
• Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

CH (1)