Clinical prospective study of biochemical markers and evoked potentials for identifying adverse neurological outcome after thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

Background: Neurological deficit after repair of a thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA/TAAA) remains a devastating complication. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical value of biochemical markers [S-100B, neurone-specific enolase (NSE) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD)], evoked potentials and their combinations for identifying adverse neurological outcome after TAA/TAAA surgery.

Methods: From 69 patients, cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples for biochemical analysis were drawn after the induction of anaesthesia, during the cross-clamp period, 5 min, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 19 h, respectively, after reperfusion.

Oxidative stress after lung resection therapy: A pilot study.

Study Objectives: To investigate whether oxidative stress occurs following lobectomy and pneumonectomy and to evaluate whether markers of oxidative stress might be of value in the assessment of the diagnosis, course, and prognosis of postoperative complications.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: A specialized thoracic surgical unit in a large referral hospital.