British journal of anaesthesia
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Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of vascular occlusive diseases, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Additionally, these conditions are predicted by C-reactive protein (CRP), a general inflammation marker. We hypothesized that the inflammation induced by surgery itself augments vascular occlusive disease. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between postoperative CRP elevation and postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). ⋯ Postoperative CRP elevation was associated with long-term postoperative MACCE in OPCAB patients. This was mitigated by postoperative statin medication. Furthermore, postoperative CRP elevation was associated with intraoperative parameters reflecting hypoperfusion and inflammation.
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Whereas the effects of various inspiratory ventilatory modifications in lung injury have extensively been studied, those of expiratory ventilatory modifications are less well known. We hypothesized that the newly developed flow-controlled expiration (FLEX) mode provides a means of attenuating experimental lung injury. ⋯ The newly developed FLEX mode is able to attenuate experimental lung injury. FLEX could provide a novel means of lung-protective ventilation.
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Editorial Comment
Dexamethasone and peripheral nerve blocks: on the nerve or intravenous?