TEG Use in Children Undergoing Procedures With High Anticipated Blood Loss

Launched by BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · May 13, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the use of a tool called Thromboelastography (TEG) to help doctors manage blood loss during certain surgeries in children. TEG can help assess how well a child's blood is clotting, which is important because both too much and too little blood transfusion can be risky, especially for kids who may have smaller blood volumes. The researchers want to see how effective TEG can be for children undergoing non-cardiac surgeries that have a high chance of needing blood transfusions, like spinal surgeries or liver transplants.

To participate in this study, children must be undergoing specific types of planned surgeries at Boston Children's Hospital that are expected to have more than a 25% chance of requiring a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, children undergoing emergency surgeries or those who need cardiac procedures won’t be eligible. If a child qualifies, their doctors will use TEG during the surgery to gather information that may help improve care and outcomes. The study is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to improve how blood loss is managed in pediatric surgeries.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Pediatric patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery at BCH with a high likelihood of blood transfusion. Specifically these are defined as a surgery with greater than 25% likelihood of transfusion of any non-albumin blood product.
• * Eligible surgeries include:
• • spinal surgery
• • laparotomy
• • liver transplant
• • craniofacial surgery
• • esophageal atresia
• • craniotomy/hemispherectomy
• • major abdominal surgery
• • major hip surgery
• • major plastic surgery
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients undergoing cardiac surgery or ECMO cannulation, as these surgeries are generally considered outside the scope of general pediatric surgery.
• • Patients presenting for emergent surgery
• • Patients undergoing surgeries off hours (between 8pm and 8 am), when TEG analysis is unobtainable