Postconditioning of the lower limb--protection against the reperfusion syndrome.

Background: Postconditioning-alternating brief cycles of reperfusion/reocclusion applied at the beginning of revascularization-is a potent therapeutic technique, attenuating ischemia-reperfusion injury. Vascular surgery on the lower limb with ischemia-reperfusion injury may give rise to serious systemic complications [organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)], a phenomenon called reperfusion-syndrome.

Material And Methods: We studied the effects of postconditioning on reperfusion-syndrome in a rodent experimental model.