Long-term outcome following remote ischemic postconditioning during percutaneous coronary interventions-the RIP-PCI trial long-term follow-up.

The clinical value of ischemic conditioning during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and mode of administration is controversial. Our aim was to assess the long-term effect of remote ischemic postconditioning among patients undergoing PCI. We randomized 360 patients undergoing PCI who presented with a negative troponin T at baseline into 3 groups: 2 groups received remote ischemic postconditioning (with ischemia applied to the arm in 1 group and to the thigh in the other group), and the third group acted as a control group.

The effect of fresh versus standard blood transfusion on microvascular endothelial function.

Background: The duration of red blood cell (RBC) storage may have a negative impact on endothelial nitric oxide bioavailability. We tested the hypothesis that transfused fresh blood will have a more favorable effect on microvascular endothelial function as compared to older standard issue blood.

Methods: Participants requiring chronic RBC transfusions were enrolled in a crossover design study to receive fresh (<7 days of storage) or standard (up to 42 days of storage) blood on 2 separate visits.

The Impact of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation on Coronary Blood Flow and Endothelial Function.

Purpose: The geko™ device is a small transcutaneous nerve stimulator that is applied non-invasively to the skin over the common peroneal nerve to stimulate peripheral blood flow. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of peripheral nerve stimulation on coronary flow dynamics and systemic endothelial function.

Methods: We enrolled 10 male patients, age 59 ± 11 years, with symptomatic obstructive coronary disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).