ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been suggested as a means of protecting vital organs from reperfusion injury during major vascular surgery. This study was designed to determine whether RIPC could reduce the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) during open surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Secondary aims were to see if RIPC could reduce 30-day mortality, multiple organ failure, acute intestinal ischaemia, acute kidney injury and ischaemic stroke. METHODS: This randomized, non-blinded clinical trial was undertaken at three vascular surgery centres in Denmark. Patients who had open surgery for ruptured AAA were randomized to intervention with RIPC or control in a 1 : 1 ratio. Postoperative complications and deaths were registered, and ECG and blood samples were obtained daily during the hospital stay. RESULTS: Of 200 patients randomized, 142 (72 RIPC, 70 controls) were included. There was no difference in rates of perioperative MI between the RIPC and control groups (36 versus 43 per cent respectively), or in rates of organ failure. However, in the per-protocol analysis 30-day mortality was significantly reduced in the RIPC group (odds ratio 0·46, 95 per cent c.i. 0·22 to 0·99; P = 0·048). CONCLUSION: RIPC did not reduce the incidence of perioperative MI in patients undergoing open surgery for ruptured AAA. Registration number: NCT00883363 ( http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular burden and consequences of peripheral atherosclerosis appear to differ between men and women. Data regarding long-term outcomes, including the impact of medical prophylactic treatment, are insufficient. This study examined long-term outcomes according to sex following primary vascular surgery, adjusted for multiple variables as well as recommended medical prophylaxis. METHODS: All Danish patients who underwent peripheral vascular surgery from January 2000 to December 2007 were stratified into five procedural groups: (a) aorto-iliac bypass or thromboendarterectomy, (b) femoro-femoral crossover, (c) thromboendarterectomy of the femoral arteries, (d) infrainguinal bypass, or (e) axillo- uni-, and bifemoral bypass. Data were analyzed according to sex for differences in myocardial infarction, stroke, and death, individually and combined, after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 11,234 patients were included: 6,289 males and 4,945 females. The overall adjusted hazard ratio for male patients compared with female patients for death was 1.11 (95% CI 1.06-1.17), for MI was 1.16 (95% CI 1.04-1.29), for stroke was 0.99 (95% CI 0.89-1.11), and for any major adverse cardiovascular event was 1.10 (95% CI 1.05-1.16). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that, despite indication, severity, and concomitant medical treatment of peripheral artery disease, men have a higher risk of mortality and adverse cardiovascular events following surgery for peripheral arterial disease.
