Microvascular circulation in kids after heart surgery
Official title: Assessment of Microvascular Circulation in the Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patient
Run by Boston Children's Hospital · NCT07184476 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a handheld microcirculation camera can reveal microvascular status in children after heart surgery with Tetralogy of Fallot or VSD repair.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 1 Day to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Boston Children's Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 18, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 17, 2027 |
| Study ends | March 17, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07184476 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are pediatric patients with a primary diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot or ventricular septal defect undergoing surgery at Boston Children's Hospital.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without microvascular dysfunction or those not developing hemodynamic instability may see no direct benefit from this observational assessment.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study examines microvascular blood flow in pediatric patients undergoing heart surgery, using a handheld incident dark-field camera to provide real-time microcirculation data during and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Researchers compare microvascular signals with standard macrovascular measurements to explore potential discrepancies in vascular status. The goal is to see if microcirculatory information can improve understanding of postoperative stability beyond traditional vital signs. The study is led by Boston Children's Hospital and is conducted at their Boston, MA site. No interventions beyond observational microcirculation assessment are performed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve understanding of postoperative microvascular status and potentially guide more precise management of pediatric patients after heart surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests microcirculatory assessment can reveal information not captured by macrovascular measures, but this specific pediatric, post-surgical use is not widely established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * All patients with primary diagnosis of ventricular septal defect or tetrology of Fallot Exclusion Criteria: * Critical airway, congenital genetic abnormality of the mouth/tongue
Where it's running
-
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sitaram Emani — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Sharon Boyle
- Email: sharon.boyle@cardio.chboston.org
- Phone: 6173557077
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.