Occult Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Non-pulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Patients

Overview

About this study

The purpose of this study is to estimate the proportion of Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) patients with abnormal gastrointestinal bleeding as assessed by HemoQuant fecal occult blood test. Also, in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding present, to summarize the extent of gastrointestinal bleeding; to examine the behavior of HemoQuant fecal occult blood test over time by estimating the proportion of VAD patients with a positive test prior to implantation; at one week, one month, three months, six months and one year post implantation, and after explantation of the VAD and to evaluate whether presence of any abnormal fecal HemoQuant test is predictive of a future major bleeding event.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Group 1 - cross sectional study. Patients with implanted non-pulsatile ventricular assist devices of any type and at any time after implantation
  • Group 2 - prospective study. Patients with usual VAD indications will be invited to participate, when, in the opinion of their treating physician a VAD will be highly likely within one month.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unwillingness to provide stool samples for study
  • Unwillingness to be followed for study endpoints.
  • Unwillingness to follow dietary restrictions necessary for accurate HemaQuant measurement

More information

Publications

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CLS-20308919

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