Remote ischaemic preconditioning increases serum extracellular vesicle concentrations with altered micro-RNA signature in CABG patients.

Background: Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) can attenuate myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury but its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing microRNAs (miRNAs) were shown to mediate distant intercellular communication that may be involved in cardioprotection. We tested the hypothesis that RIPC in anaesthetized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery results in the release of EVs from the ischaemic/reperfused arm into the blood stream harbouring cardioprotective miRNAs.

Potential humoral mediators of remote ischemic preconditioning in patients undergoing surgical coronary revascularization.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) by repeated brief cycles of limb ischemia/reperfusion may reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and improve patients' prognosis after elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 activation in left ventricular myocardium is associated with RIPC´s cardioprotection. Cytokines and growth hormones typically activate STATs and could therefore act as humoral transfer factors of RIPC´s cardioprotection.

Proteomics/phosphoproteomics of left ventricular biopsies from patients with surgical coronary revascularization and pigs with coronary occlusion/reperfusion: remote ischemic preconditioning.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) by repeated brief cycles of limb ischemia/reperfusion reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. In left ventricular (LV) biopsies from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), only the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 was associated with RIPC's cardioprotection. We have now used an unbiased, non-hypothesis-driven proteomics and phosphoproteomics approach to analyze LV biopsies from patients undergoing CABG and from pigs undergoing coronary occlusion/reperfusion without (sham) and with RIPC.

No protection of heart, kidneys and brain by remote ischemic preconditioning before transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Interim-analysis of a randomized single-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-center trial.

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) reduces myocardial injury and improves clinical outcome in patients undergoing coronary revascularization, but only in the absence of propofol-anesthesia. We investigated whether RIPC provides protection of heart, kidneys and brain and improves outcome in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI).

Methods: Patients undergoing TF-TAVI were randomized to receive RIPC (3cycles of 5min left upper arm ischemia and 5min reperfusion) or placebo.

Confounders of Cardioprotection by Remote Ischemic Preconditioning in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Objectives: Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) by repetitive blood pressure cuff inflation/deflation around a limb provides cardioprotection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Cardioprotection is confounded by risk factors, comorbidities and comedications. We aimed to identify confounders that possibly attenuate the protection provided by RIC.

Myocardial injury during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: an intracoronary Doppler and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study.

Aims: Myocardial injury reflected by a post-procedural increase of serum troponin I (TnI) occurs frequently during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). It is potentially caused by intraprocedural hypotension, periprocedural coronary microembolisation and post-procedural (para)valvular leakages (PVLs). We invasively assessed coronary flow dynamics including coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR), embolic high-intensity transient signals (HITS) as well as rapid pacing induced hypotension and post-procedural PVLs to determine their contribution to post-procedural TnI increases.

The minimally invasive MitraClip™ procedure for mitral regurgitation under general anaesthesia: immediate effects on the pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function.

A relatively new minimally invasive cardiological procedure, called the MitraClip(™), does not require sternotomy and may have a number of advantages compared with open mitral valve surgery, but its acute impact on the pulmonary circulation and right ventricular function during general anaesthesia is unclear. We prospectively assessed the effects of the MitraClip procedure in 81 patients with or without pulmonary hypertension (defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure > 25 mmHg), who were anaesthetised using fentanyl (5 μg.kg(-1)), etomidate (0.

No evidence for activated autophagy in left ventricular myocardium at early reperfusion with protection by remote ischemic preconditioning in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) by repeated brief limb ischemia/reperfusion reduces myocardial injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) in left ventricular (LV) myocardium at early reperfusion is associated with such protection. Autophagy, i.

Myocardial protection by remote ischaemic pre-conditioning is abolished in sulphonylurea-treated diabetics undergoing coronary revascularisation.

Background: Remote ischaemic pre-conditioning attenuates myocardial injury. Because sulphonylurea drugs interfere with ischaemic and anaesthetic pre-conditioning, we assessed whether remote ischaemic pre-conditioning effects are altered in sulphonylurea-treated diabetics.

Methods: Using the database of our ongoing randomised, placebo-controlled study (ClinicalTrials.

Cardioprotective and prognostic effects of remote ischaemic preconditioning in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-centre randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.

Background: Remote ischaemic preconditioning has been associated with reduced risk of myocardial injury after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We investigated the safety and efficacy of this procedure.

Methods: Eligible patients were those scheduled to undergo elective isolated first-time CABG surgery under cold crystalloid cardioplegia and cardiopulmonary bypass at the West-German Heart Centre, Essen, Germany, between April, 2008, and October, 2012.

Interference of propofol with signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation and cardioprotection by remote ischemic preconditioning during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Remote ischemic preconditioning protects the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion injury. We recently identified protection by remote ischemic preconditioning to be associated with the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in left ventricular biopsy specimens of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting during isoflurane anesthesia. Because remote ischemic preconditioning did not protect the heart during propofol anesthesia, we hypothesized that propofol anesthesia interferes with signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation.

Incidence, predictors, origin and prevention of early and late neurological events after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI): a comprehensive review of current data.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a novel treatment option for patients with severe, symptomatic aortic valve stenosis considered inoperable or at high risk for surgical aortic valve replacement. Despite rapid adoption of this technology into clinical application, however, recent randomized controlled clinical trials have raised safety concerns regarding an increased risk of neurological events with TAVI compared to both medical treatment and conventional, surgical aortic valve replacement. Moreover, neuro-imaging studies have revealed an even higher incidence of new, albeit clinically silent cerebral lesions as a surrogate for procedural embolization.

Early thromboelastometric variables reliably predict maximum clot firmness in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a step towards earlier decision making.

Background: While much effort has been spent on guiding coagulation and transfusion therapy in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery, the use of conventional laboratory-based coagulation tests is hampered by long turnaround times and interference with heparin and protamine. To allow faster assessment of maximum clot firmness (MCF) by point-of-care thromboelastometry (ROTEM®, TEM International GmbH, Munich, Germany), we tested whether clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), or early values of clot firmness (CF) predict MCF.

Methods: Results of 437 ROTEM® assays (EXTEM®, INTEM®, FIBTEM®, and HEPTEM®) from 84 patients undergoing CPB surgery were analyzed.

Arrhythmogenic risk of pulmonary artery catheterisation in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Many clinicians consider severe aortic stenosis to be a contraindication to pulmonary artery catheterisation, except during open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. This is due to the perceived high risk of arrhythmia, although the true incidence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective study to estimate the incidence of severe arrhythmias during pulmonary artery catheterisation in 380 patients with severe aortic stenosis scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Remote ischemic preconditioning: the surgeon's perspective.

Since cardiac surgery began, surgeons have aimed to find methods of minimizing myocardial injury resulting from ischemia and reperfusion. The concept of somehow conditioning the heart in order to attenuate ischemia and reperfusion-related injury has evolved in cardiovascular research over decades, from ischemic preconditioning and postconditioning to, more recently, remote ischemic preconditioning (and postconditioning). Although many strategies have proven to be beneficial in the experimental arena, a few have been successfully translated into clinical practice.

Cerebral embolization during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a transcranial Doppler study.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is associated with a higher risk of neurological events for both the transfemoral and transapical approach than surgical valve replacement. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging has revealed more new, albeit clinically silent lesions from procedural embolization, yet the main source and predominant procedural step of emboli remain unclear.

Methods And Results: Eighty-three patients underwent transfemoral (Medtronic CoreValve [MCV(TF)], n=32; Edwards Sapien [ES(TF)], n=26) and transapical (ES(TA): n=25) TAVI.

Hybrid operating room concept for combined diagnostics, intervention and surgery in acute type A dissection.

Objectives: In acute type A dissection (AAAD), it is commonly decided to carry out immediate surgical repair without invasive diagnostics. The hybrid operating room (Hybrid OR) concept encompasses simultaneous haemodynamic control, non-invasive and invasive diagnostics and immediate surgical and/or interventional treatment. Results over a seven-year period are presented here.

STAT5 activation and cardioprotection by remote ischemic preconditioning in humans: short communication.

Rationale: The heart can be protected from infarction by brief episodes of ischemia/reperfusion of a remote organ. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) by brief arm ischemia/reperfusion has been recruited in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary interventions and during transport to the hospital for acute myocardial infarction. Cardioprotective signaling has been extensively characterized in animal experiments.

Protection by remote ischemic preconditioning during coronary artery bypass graft surgery with isoflurane but not propofol - a clinical trial.

Background: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) of the myocardium by limb ischemia/reperfusion may mitigate cardiac damage, but its interaction with the anesthetic regimen is unknown. We tested whether RIPC is associated with differential effects depending on background anesthesia. Specifically, we hypothesized that RIPC during isoflurane anesthesia attenuates myocardial injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, and that effects may be different during propofol anesthesia.

Genetic interactions in the β-adrenoceptor/G-protein signal transduction pathway and survival after coronary artery bypass grafting: a pilot study.

Background: In heart failure, β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) stimulation desensitizes the receptor, uncouples the downstream Gαs protein, and diminishes signal transduction. We tested the hypotheses that haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (htSNPs) within the Gαs gene (GNAS) (i) are functionally active and alter Gαs expression, (ii) influence survival after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and (iii) interact with βAR SNPs.

Methods: Amplification of GNAS intron 1 was followed by cloning, reporter assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and western blots.

First-line therapy with coagulation factor concentrates combined with point-of-care coagulation testing is associated with decreased allogeneic blood transfusion in cardiovascular surgery: a retrospective, single-center cohort study.

Introduction: Blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We developed and implemented an algorithm for coagulation management in cardiovascular surgery based on first-line administration of coagulation factor concentrates combined with point-of-care thromboelastometry/impedance aggregometry.

Methods: In a retrospective cohort study including 3,865 patients, we analyzed the incidence of intraoperative allogeneic blood transfusions (primary endpoints) before and after algorithm implementation.