Plymouth hospital joins pioneering national heart surgery trial
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is one of 30 cardiac centres in the UK taking part in a pioneering national heart surgery research trial.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study called the AFFECT trial, is being led by researchers at The James Cook University Hospital in Teeside and supported by cardiac consultants across the UK. The AFFECT trial is designed to identify the safest and most effective blood-thinning treatment to use after heart valve surgery for patients who also have a heart rhythm problem.
Each year, thousands of people in the UK have surgery for mitral regurgitation - a common heart condition where the mitral valve fails to close tightly, allowing blood to leak backward into the left atrium instead of pumping forward to the body. This forces the heart to work harder, which can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and potential heart failure.
If these patients also have a heart rhythm issue, they usually need blood-thinning medication to reduce their risk of having a stroke or other complications after surgery. Current national and international guidelines recommend using a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) such as warfarin. But a newer group of medicines known as Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) are now also widely used. The AFFECT trial aims to show which option offers the best long-term outcomes for patients.
Cardiac Consultant and principal investigator for the trial in Plymouth, Mr Clinton Lloyd said: “We are delighted to be participating in the AFFECT trial. Being able to support this important research locally in Plymouth will help us to compare newer direct oral anticoagulants with established treatments such as warfarin, helping to determine which approaches offer the best long-term outcomes and informing future standards of care for patients."
Professor Enoch Akowuah, chief investigator for the AFFECT trial at University Hospitals Tees said: “This is an important question for both patients and clinicians. We know anticoagulation is essential for patients with atrial fibrillation after mitral valve repair, but we do not yet know which treatment offers the best balance of safety and protection. The AFFECT Trial will provide high-quality evidence to guide national treatment decisions and improve long-term outcomes for patients across the UK and internationally.”
