The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether avoiding a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), a type of invasive monitoring tool, is no worse than using one in adults undergoing open heart surgery.
The main questions it will answer are:
1. Does avoiding routine PAC use lead to recovery that is no worse than routine PAC use, measured by days alive and at home during the first 30 days after surgery?
2. How do the 2 strategies compare for kidney injury, major complications, survival, disability-free survival, quality of life, and healthcare use?
Researchers will compare routine PAC use with no routine PAC use (using a standard central venous catheter instead) to see whether patients recover as well without a PAC.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to have either a PAC or no PAC at the start of their surgery Receive usual care from their treating team Be followed up at about 30 days and 180 days after surgery, mainly by telephone and review of medical records
No extra in-person study visits or additional tests are required as part of this trial.