Red Cell Rejuvenation for the Attenuation of Transfusion Associated Organ Injury in Cardiac Surgery

A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF RED CELL REJUVENATION FOR THE ATTENUATION OF TRANSFUSION ASSOCIATED ORGAN INJURY IN CARDIAC SURGERY: The REDJUVENATE Trial

The REDJUVENATE Trial proposes to test the hypothesis that postoperative organ injury and inflammation will be less if patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are at risk of large volume blood transfusion (defined as the administration of ≥4 units of red cells) receive rejuvenated washed cells compared to standard care (unwashed aged stored cells).

In the REDJUVENATE trial, we propose to establish whether the administration of rejuvenated red cells will reduce inflammation and organ injury in cardiac surgery patients at risk of large volume blood transfusion when compared to standard care. Organ injury and sepsis accounts for the majority of all deaths following cardiac surgery. Once organ injury is established care is primarily supportive and there are no effective treatments. Prevention is therefore a key clinical strategy to prevent death, morbidity and high healthcare costs attributable to these complications. Sepsis and inflammatory organ injury are also the principal causes of death following paediatric cardiac surgery, trauma, non-cardiac complex surgical procedures and in critical care; clinical settings that are also among the principal consumers of blood components. National and international blood management strategies are focused on these patients. Evidence of a clinical benefit attributable to the use of rejuvenated red cells in cardiac surgery patients is therefore likely to translate into more widespread benefits to patients and the National Health Service (NHS).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult cardiac surgery patients (≥18 years) undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
2. Identified as representing a high risk group for massive blood transfusion using a modified risk score. A large volume blood transfusion (LVBT) score of >23 indicates predicted risk of receiving ≥4 units of allogeneic red cells equal to or greater than 55 per cent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Emergency or salvage procedure
2. Patients with end stage renal failure defined as an estimated Glomerular Filtration rate (eGFR) <15 mL/min/1.72 m2 calculated from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, or patients who are on long-term haemodialysis or have undergone renal transplantation.
3. Patients who are prevented from having blood and blood products according to a system of beliefs (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses).
4. Patients with a pre-existing sepsis or organ injury defined as documented sepsis, acute kidney injury, acute lung injury, myocardial infarction, low cardiac output, liver injury, stroke or pancreatitis within 5 days of surgery.
5. Pregnancy.
6. Patients who are participating in another interventional clinical study.
7. Patients requiring irradiated blood.
8. Sickle cell anaemia.