Perioperative Ischemia Reduction Study (PROSE) Pilot

After surgery, patients who have cardiogram changes consistent with a lack of oxygen to the heart muscles, also known as myocardial ischemia, have been found to have 9 times the chance of having an event such as a heart attack during the subsequent 30 days. It is not known if monitoring and treating ischemia will prevent events such as heart attacks. It is not known if such monitoring and treatment can be done on the regular surgical wards. In this pilot study, we hope to demonstrate that such a study is feasible, and the maintenance of blinding is possible. The primary outcomes are to show that such monitoring after surgery is possible in ≥ 95% of patients, to show that response and treatment to such ischemia in ≤ 1 hour is possible in ≥ 90% of patients, and that blinding between the standard and active treatment groups is possible for 50% ± 1 s.d.. With the pilot study data, if successful, we will be applying for peer-reviewed funding for a full study.