Preoperative statin treatment is associated with reduced postoperative mortality after isolated cardiac valve surgery in high-risk patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of preoperative statin therapy on postoperative mortality in high-risk patients after isolated valve surgery.

Design: An observational cohort study.

Setting: A 1,200-bed university hospital.

Experimentally-induced acute lung injury: the protective effect of hydroxyethyl starch.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydroxyethyl starch, (130/0.4) 6%, compared to Ringer's acetate and modified gelatin on hypoxemia, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress in an experimental model of acute lung injury (ALI). The ALI/Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) experimental model was produced by a bronchoalveolar saline lavage.