Journal of cardiovascular medicine
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J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) · Nov 2008
Preoperative angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors protect myocardium from ischemia during coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery may result in perioperative myocardial injury during cardioplegic arrest. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors protect the myocardium from ischemia in several clinical conditions, but no previous study has attempted to evaluate the impact of preoperative ACE inhibitor therapy on myocardial protection in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. ⋯ ACE inhibitors prior to surgery confer added myocardial protection during surgical revascularization. Prospective, randomized clinical trials will be necessary to better define the role of ACE inhibitors in improving outcomes when they are prescribed prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery.