Cardiocentric Inotropic Optimization in Spinal Cord Injury
Key facts
- Where
- Vancouver, CanadaSee the site
- Phase
- Early phase 1
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 75 years old?
Source: NCT07871643, who can take part
Where in Canada
- Vancouver General HospitalVancouver, CanadaContact: Allan Aludino, PhDNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University of British Columbia
- Trial code
- NCT07871643
- Record updated
- 13 October 2026
- Original description
The first hours-to-day following acute traumatic cervical SCI represent a critical period of time to optimize hemodynamic management. After a spinal cord injury, cardiovascular function is affected. Maintaining blood pressure becomes is an important part of treatment as it supports recovery of the injured spinal cord. Blood pressure is most often increased using vasopressors, such as norepinephrine. Although these drugs help maintain blood flow, they may also lead to increased bleeding in the injury site, making the lesion worse. Alternatively, dobutamine, a medication that helps the heart pump more effectively, has shown to maintain blood pressure and improve prefusion at the injury site. This study will assess dobutamine capacity to maintain blood pressure acutely post injury.Read full original descriptionShow less
The first hours-to-day following acute traumatic cervical SCI represent a critical period of time to optimize hemodynamic management. After a spinal cord injury, cardiovascular function is affected. Maintaining blood pressure becomes is an important part of treatment as it supports recovery of the injured spinal cord. Blood pressure is most often increased using vasopressors, such as norepinephrine. Although these drugs help maintain blood flow, they may also lead to increased bleeding in the injury site, making the lesion worse. Alternatively, dobutamine, a medication that helps the heart pump more effectively, has shown to maintain blood pressure and improve prefusion at the injury site. This study will assess dobutamine capacity to maintain blood pressure acutely post injury.
Inclusion: Complete (AIS A) or incomplete (AIS B) acute traumatic SCI involving bony spinal levels between C0 and T1 (inclusive); Able to communicate in English and provide informed consent.
Exclusion: History and/or symptoms of cardiovascular disease (Type 2 Diabetes is ok) or cardiopulmonary problems/disease, including uncontrolled hypertension; Traumatic brain injury that is severe enough to preclude neurologic assessment of SCI impairment and assignment of AIS grade A or B; Unstable Angina; Myocardial infarction in the preceding 2 days; Any other medical condition that in the investigator's opinion would render the study procedures dangerous or impair your ability to receive study therapy; Aneurysms of the thoracic aorta; Pregnant; Aortic stenosis; Any patient who requires additional vasopressor infusions other than NE within 4 hours of the time that the crossover is to be conducted will be excluded and considered a screen-fail (i.e. at the time of the crossover, the participant must only be on norepinephrine for blood pressure control and maintained solely on norepinephrine for the 4 hours preceding the crossover); Any patient who does not have an arterial line and central venous catheter (CVC) inserted as part of their standard clinical management at the time the crossover is to be conducted will be excluded and considered a screen-fail.