Pulmonary metastasectomy - A retrospective comparison of surgical outcomes after laser-assisted and conventional resection.

INTRODUCTION: Indications and surgical techniques for pulmonary metastasectomy (PME) are controversially discussed issues. Laser-assisted surgery (LAS) is a recent innovation that has been advocated especially in patients with multiple pulmonary metastases (PM). However, there are hardly any studies comparing surgical outcomes after laser-assisted and conventional resection. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the value of LAS in a larger study population. MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective analysis was completed on 178 consecutive patients undergoing 236 PMEs at a single center between 2010 and 2015. The main endpoint was survival. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival rates were compared with the log rank test. Follow-up was done with special attention to the development of recurrent PM. Local relapse was defined as a recurrent metastasis in direct relation to the previously resected area according to CT scan comparisons. RESULTS: LAS was performed on 256 metastases in 99 patients, non-laser-assisted surgery (NLAS) on 127 metastases in 79 patients. 5-year-survival rates were 69.3% in all patients, 65.7% after LAS and 73.6% after NLAS. There was no statistically significant survival difference after LAS or NLAS (p = 0.41). The rate of local relapse was 0.8% after LAS vs 3.1% after NLAS (p = 0.073). CONCLUSION: Despite a larger number of negative predictors for survival in LAS patients, overall survival (OS) was similar in the compared groups. There was also a trend for a lower risk of local relapses after LAS. Therefore, LAS should be considered a promising method for PME.

A new era of thoracic oncology? Ex-vivo stereotactic ablative radiosurgery within Ex-vivo Lung Treatment System as a hybrid therapy for unresectable locally advanced pulmonary malignancies.

The concept of oligometastases is the medical rationale for a local treatment of a limited number of metastatic tumor manifestations. Patients with pulmonary oligometastases are candidates for surgery or radiotherapy, however there are a number of technical issues that limit treatment. Technical issues relating to radiotherapy include organs at risk of irradiation, chest wall toxicity and decreased precision of tumor targeting because of breathing movements. Technical issues relating to surgery include loss of lung parenchyma and unresectability. We propose the hypothesis that ex-vivo radiosurgery as new hybrid technique in thoracic oncology has the capability to overcome these technical issues and will expand the medical spectrum in thoracic oncology. The proposed - highly complex - technique consists of surgical lung explantation, followed by stereotactic radiotherapy during ex-vivo perfusion followed by surgical re-implantation.

A new era of ventricular assist device surgery: less invasive procedures.

As the number of patients suffering of congestive heart failure is rising worldwide, the use of mechanical circulatory support to treat these patients has also grown enormously, surpassing the number of annual heart transplants. Moreover latest generation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is characterized by improved technologies. Moreover the size of new LVAD systems is considerably reduced when compared to older generation devices. Therefore, less invasive surgery is now possible for the implantation, explantation, and exchange of LVADs. Although experience with these new techniques is still limited, minimally invasive procedures are thought to improve surgical outcomes by declining the rates of operative complications such as bleeding or wound infection. The miniaturization of LVADs will continue, so that minimally invasive techniques will be used for most LVAD-related procedures in the future. In this article, we summarize and describe minimally invasive surgical techniques, with a focus on the most common LVAD systems in adults.

Optimal timing of pulmonary metastasectomy--is a delayed operation beneficial or counterproductive?

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary metastasectomy represents an established approach in the treatment of lung metastases related to several solid malignant tumors, promising the chance of long term survival. Regarding the proper timing of metastasectomy both operation promptly after diagnosis and delayed operation after an interval of 3 months are common practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic Medline search addressing the optimal timing of metastasectomy was performed. Since the search query "timing of metastasectomy" yields only a limited number of articles, the Medline search was expanded to include the main arguments for prompt metastasectomy ("metastases of metastasis", "growth rate of pulmonary metastases") and for delayed metastasectomy. RESULTS: Based on the data available to date, there is no necessity to expedite the timing of the operation. On the other hand, there is no evidence that a delayed operation, for example after re-staging following an interval of 3 months, provides a benefit. CONCLUSION: Therefore the timing of metastasectomy should only depend on the patient's requirements, such as general state of health and oncologic considerations, such as promising multimodal therapy concepts, extrathoracal tumor manifestations or oncologic type of the primary tumor. A delayed operation seems justified if the indication for resection is questionable due to a high risk of early multilocal recurrence.

[Meeting the needs of the European working time directive in german medical profession]. / Sollarbeitszeit und maximale Arbeitszeit bei angestellten Ärzten.

The legal obligation of the European Working Time Directive with its implementation into a German Working Hours Act requires German hospitals to give up old structures and requires the implementation of new working time models. The failure of the revision of the European Working Time Directive in April 2009 prevented that any changes of status quo might happen in the near future. Fundamental terms of the working law for the medical area have been elucidated and have been implemented into concrete calculation formulas. The planned working time has been clearly determined. Particularly, on-call duties and a signed "OptOut-declaration" have huge effects on the upper limit of the working time that is to be determined. Shift duty leads to the greatest limitations of the upper limit of the working time. The Working Hours Act defines the maximal, available, individual working time budget and thus the working time budget of a hospital and it limits the maximal availability of the service providers of a hospital as well as defining the maximal personnel costs. Transparency in this area lays the foundation for an effective time management and the creation of new working time models in accordance with the European Working Time Directive as well as the Working Hours Act and the "TVÄ" (labour contract for doctors at municipal hospitals). It is possible, with the knowledge of the maximal working time budget and the thereof resulting personnel costs, to calculate the economical revenues better. The reallocation of the working time of doctors enables efficiency enhancement. It is necessary to demand a clear definition of the tasks of doctors with the consequential discharge of tasks that should not/do not belong to the responsibilities of a doctor. This would lead to a more attractive working environment for doctors at hospitals and thus to an improvement of the care of the patients. The implementation of the European Time Directive is not to be seen as unrealizable, as has been generally heard; instead, it enables the urgently necessary structural reform at German hospitals.

Long-term maintenance therapy for post-cardiac transplant monoclonal lymphoproliferative disorder: caveat mammalian target of rapamycin.

A 53-year-old Caucasian male suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent cardiac transplantation. Fifty-seven days following transplant, he developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), which was Epstein-Barr virus positive. The initial episode of PTLD was treated with a dose reduction in cyclosporine (CsA) and a 4-week course of rituximab. Subsequent biopsies showed resolution of PTLD. One year posttreatment, his evaluation revealed severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). The patient was switched to sirolimus-based immunosuppression regimen with gradual up-titration of sirolimus in combination with complete withdrawal of previously administered Calcineurin-based immunosuppression approach. The switchover was carried out over a 6-week period. In the following 3 years, there was CAV regression as well as PTLD remission, without any significant episode of rejection. Despite frequent relapses with this form of PTLD, the patient remains in remission, 8 years posttransplantation. In summary, sirolimus has been demonstrated to attenuate the progression of CAV, and this case report illustrates that regression of CAV is possible. In addition to preventing rejection, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors directly suppress signaling pathways leading to PTLD and may be effective monotherapy for preventing rejection and suppressing PTLD.

Extracorporeal life support in pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases: outcome of a single centre.

AIM: In pediatric patients with congenital heart disease low cardiac output (LCO) is the principal complication after corrective heart surgery. In LCO refractory to all therapeutic options, mechanical circulatory support is the final method to keep these patients alive. In this present study the authors reviewed the outcome of pediatric patients who required mechanical circulatory support after corrective surgery with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ventricle assisted devices (VAD). METHODS: A retrospective single centre consecutive cohort study was carried out in children who required different mechanical circulatory support indicated by postcardiotomy low output syndrome between 1991 and 2004. A total of 20 patients received extracorporeal life support. The indications for surgery were: 12 transposition of great arteries, 1 Bland-White-Garland syndrome, 3 tetralogy of Fallot, 1 hypoplasia of aortic arch, 1 total anomalous pulmonary vein connection, and 2 ventricle septum defect. RESULTS: Mean age was 1.29 years. Mean duration of assist was 8.87 days. Seven patients out of 20 survived, six could be discharged after myocardial recovery from LCO and one could be discharged after successful heart transplantation. The overall mortality in patients with extracorporeal life support was 65%. The causes of death were multiorgan failure and bleeding in one case was a VAD related complication. CONCLUSION: The use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) shows a high mortality rate. However, ECLS can still help to keep some of those patients alive. Mechanical support devices are the ultimate chance to save time, to increase survival and to bridge the time until heart transplantation.

Clinical relevance of eNOS T-786C polymorphism for hospital mortality and morbidity in cardiac surgical patients.

AIM: The endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) gene T-786C polymorphism may influence as a genetic risk factor cardiovascular diseases and shows association with cardiovascular mortality. We hypothesized that this polymorphism may lead to increase mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: In 500 patients who underwent cardiac surgery with CPB we investigated the eNOS T-786C polymorphism by DNA-sequencing. The patients were grouped according to their genotype in three groups (TT, TC, and CC). RESULTS: The overall genotype distribution of T-786C polymorphism was TT=41.6%, TC=51.2%, and CC=7.2% respectively. The groups did not differ in age and gender. No significance was shown in preoperative risk factors, excluding peripheral disease (P=0.03). No difference was shown in Euroscore, APACHE II, and SAPS II. The usage of norepinephrine (P=0.03) and nitroglycerine (P=0.01) was significant higher in TC allele carrier. The mortality was quite uniform across elective and urgent subgroup. However, we found a significant difference concerning mortality and emergency cardiac procedures in homozygous C-allele carrier (P=0.014). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that this polymorphism contributes to a higher prevalence of postoperative mortality after emergency cardiac surgery. Thus, the eNOS T-786C polymorphism could serve as a possibility to differentiate high risk subgroups in heterogeneous population of individuals with cardiac diseases who need cardiac surgery with CPB.

Cardiac function during mild hypothermia in pigs: increased inotropy at the expense of diastolic dysfunction.

AIM: The induction of mild hypothermia (MH; 33 degrees C) has become the guideline therapy to attenuate hypoxic brain injury after out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. While MH exerts a positive inotropic effect in vitro, MH reduces cardiac output in vivo and is thus discussed critically when severe cardiac dysfunction is present in patients. We thus assessed the effect of MH on the function of the normal heart in an in vivo model closely mimicking the clinical setting. METHODS: Ten anaesthetized, female human-sized pigs were acutely catheterized for measurement of pressure-volume loops (conductance catheter), cardiac output (Swan-Ganz catheter) and for vena cava inferior occlusion. Controlled MH (from 37 to 33 degrees C) was induced by a vena cava inferior cooling catheter. RESULTS: With MH, heart rate (HR) and whole body oxygen consumption decreased, while lactate levels remained normal. Cardiac output, left ventricular (LV) volumes, peak systolic and end-diastolic pressure and dP/dt(max) did not change significantly. Changes in dP/dt(min) and the time constant of isovolumetric relaxation demonstrated impaired active relaxation. In addition, MH prolonged the systolic and shortened the diastolic time interval. Pressure-volume analysis revealed increased end-systolic and end-diastolic stiffness, indicating positive inotropy and reduced end-diastolic distensibility. Positive inotropy was preserved during pacing, while LV end-diastolic pressure increased and diastolic filling was substantially impaired due to delayed LV relaxation. CONCLUSION: MH negatively affects diastolic function, which, however, is compensated for by decreased spontaneous HR. Positive inotropy and a decrease in whole body oxygen consumption warrant further studies addressing the potential benefit of MH on the acutely failing heart.

Histological changes in a model of chronic heart failure induced by multiple sequential coronary microembolization in sheep.

AIM: Valuable models of chronic heart failure to perform histological studies are scarce. The authors aimed at investigating histological changes of the heart, lung, liver and kidneys in a stable and reproducible animal model of chronic heart failure in sheep. METHODS: In 8 sheep (N.=8, 77+/-2 kg) chronic heart failure was induced by multiple sequential microembolization through bolus injection of polysterol microspheres (90 microm, N=25 000) into the left main coronary artery. Microembolization (ME) was repeated up to three times in two to three week intervals until animals started to develop stable signs of heart failure. Therefore, clinical and hemodynamic parameters were measured (Troponin T, heart and respiratory rate, cardiac output) after each embolization. Clinical examination was carried out by a veterinarian. All animals were followed for 3 months after first microembolization and then euthanized for histological examination. Histological data of the heart, lung, liver and the kidneys were analyzed in hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stains (10x, 25x, 100x) at baseline (control group) and at 3 months after first ME. Additionally preparations of heart tissue were stained with Picro-Sirius-Red (PSR) for planimetric quantification. A score from 0 to 4 according to Rassler et al. (2005) was used to assess the degree of lung injury. RESULTS: All animals developed histological signs of heart failure as indicated by island-like, patchy fibrosis of the heart. Planimetric quantification (PSR stain) of the heart revealed a significant increase of the total amount of fibrosis from 8+/-2% (base) to 21+/-4% (3 months) (P<0.05), which was distributed homogeneously throughout the left ventricle (20+/-3% left ventricular [LV] anterior wall, 21+/-4% LV posterior wall, 20+/-4% septum). Histologic analysis of the lung demonstrated a moderate degree of interstitial edema and pronounced peribronchial processes of inflammation with beginning proliferation of fibrotic tissue. Liver tissue showed histological changes in terms of pericentral adiposis as sign of hypoxia in course of lacking perfusion. Signs of liver congestion could be detected histological in form of central-venous accumulation of erythrocytes and dissolution of liver tissue in proximity of the central veins. Kidney preparations illustrated loss of endothelial function and vascular occlusions, caused by microspheres, with decline of renal parenchyma particularly of the tubules. CONCLUSION: Multiple sequential intracoronary microembolization can effectively induce myocardial dysfunction with histological signs of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy and pathological changes of lung, liver and kidney, which can directly be coursed by chronic heart failure. Thus, the present model may be suitable in experimental work on heart failure and LV assist devices, e.g. for studying the impact of mechanical unloading, mechanisms of recovery and reverse remodeling.

Influence of angiotensin-I-converting-enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism on perioperative hemodynamics after coronary bypass graft surgery.

AIM: The angiotensin I-converting enzyme insertion/ deletion polymorphism (ACE-I/D), including three genotypes (II, ID, DD), with a known impact on midterm mortality and morbidity in patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), was studied. Since this polymorphism has been linked with increased vascular response to phenylephrine during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), we investigated its possible effect on perioperative hemodynamics in patients undergoing CABG. METHODS: Genotyping for the ACE-I/D was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PRC) amplification in 110 patients who underwent elective CABG with CPB. Patients were assigned to two groups according to their genotype (group II [II genotype] and group ID/DD [ID and DD genotypes]). Systemic hemodynamics were measured directly before and at 4 h, 9 h, and 19 h after CPB. RESULTS: Genotype distribution of ACE-I/D was 18%, 57%, and 25% in genotypes II, ID, and DD, respectively. The two groups were similar in age (group II: 66+/-6 years, group ID/DD: 66+/-8 years), body-mass-index (BMI) (group II: 28+/-2, group ID/DD: 29+/-5 kg/m2), male: female ratio (group II: 16: 4, group ID/DD: 63: 27) and Euroscore (group II: 3.1+/-1.9, group ID/DD: 3.5+/-2.1). There were no differences in mortality rate or perioperative systemic hemodynamics. The pulmonary vascular resistance before cardiopulmonary bypass was higher in the ID/DD genotypes than in the II genotypes (227+/-121 vs 297+/-169 dyn.s(-1).m2.cm(-5)). Four hours after CPB no difference remained; at 9 h after cardiopulmonary bypass there was a slight difference in pulmonary vascular resistance between the two groups (247+/-134 vs 290+/-117 dyn.s(-1).m2.cm(-5)) and a significant difference in pulmonary arterial pressure (19+/-6 vs 23+/-8); at 19 h after CPB the differences were no longer detectable. CONCLUSION: ACE-I/D had no influence on perioperative systemic hemodynamics. However, transitory differences in pulmonary hemodynamic were observed after CPB. These differences may have been due to changes in serum ACE activity during CPB.

Chronic heart failure induced by multiple sequential coronary microembolization in sheep.

OBJECTIVE: Although a large variety of animal models for acute ischemia and acute heart failure exist, valuable models for studies on the effect of ventricular assist devices in chronic heart failure are scarce. We aimed to establish a stable and reproducible animal model of chronic heart failure in sheep. METHODS: Sheep (n=8, 77 +/- 4 kg) were anesthesized and a 5F sheath was implanted into the left carotid artery. The left main coronary artery was catheterized under flouroscopic guidance and bolus injection of polysterol microspheres (90 microm, n=25.000) was performed. Microembolization (ME) was repeated up to three times in two to three week intervals until animals started to develop stable clinical signs of heart failure. Clinical and echocardiographic data were analyzed at baseline (base) and at three months (3 mo) after first ME. All animals were followed for 3 months after first microembolization and then sacrificed for histological examination. Another four healthy sheep (79+/-6 kg) served as control animals. RESULTS: All animals developed clinical signs of heart failure as indicated by increased heart rate at rest (68+/-4 bpm (base) to 93 +/- 5 bpm (3 mo) (p<0.05)), increased respiratory rate at rest (28+/-5 (base) to 38 +/- 7 (3 mo) (p<0.05)) and increased body weight 77 +/- 2 kg to 81 +/- 2 kg (p<0.05) due to pleural effusion, peripheral edema and ascites. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed significantly an increase of left ventricular enddiastolic diameter from 46 +/- 3 mm (base) to 61 +/- 4 mm (3 mo) (p<0.05). Clinically and echocardiographically no significant changes were revealed in healthy control animals. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that multiple sequential intracoronary microembolization can effectively induce myocardial dysfunction with clinical and echocardiographical signs of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy. The present model may be suitable in experimental work on heart failure and left ventricular assist devices, e.g. for studying the impact of mechanical unloading, mechanisms of recovery and reverse remodeling.

[Another case of "Lazarus phenomenon" during surgery? Spontaneous return of circulation in a patient with a pacemaker]. / Intraoperatives "Lazarus-Phänomen"? Spontane Kreislaufstabilisierung bei einem Patienten mit Herzschrittmacher.

A case is presented of spontaneous return of circulation after cardiac arrest in a patient with a pacemaker without intraoperative resuscitation. In the literature this kind of situation is called the Lazarus phenomenon. Cardiac arrest of the patient occurred during surgery and because of the poor prognosis no cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated. After 6 min of apnoea and cessation of circulation, the circulation restarted spontaneously and surgery was continued. Afterwards the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit but died 2 days later without regaining consciousness. The pathophysiological mechanisms for the Lazarus phenomenon are poorly understood but several mechanisms and multifactorial events are discussed in the literature.

[Anomaly of the vena cava inferior with paracaval venous aneurysm and renal collateralisation]. / Achsenanomalien der Vena cava inferior mit paracavalem venösen Aneurysma und renalem Kollateralkreislauf.

Aneurysms of the great venous vessels represent anatomical rarities. Most malformations of the venous system published so far concern mainly the inferior vena cava and arise in different formations. Reports of malformations of the renal veins are limited to a few case reports and may lead to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. We report on an case of a asymptomatic, aneurysmatic venous malformation of the vena cava inferior With consideration of the entire findings we preferred a conservative treatment of the patient.

[Josef Koncz (1916-1988)--pioneer of cardiac surgery]. / Josef Koncz (1916-1988)--Pionier der Herzchirurgie.

Josef Koncz (1916-1988) was until given emeritus status in 1982 director of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, which was specifically founded for him in Goettingen, Germany. By the fusion of three different surgical branches the University hospital of Goettingen took over the role of a pacemaker and initiated a standard in the development of this new specialty in Germany. The scientific and clinical work done by the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery was shaped by the personality of the surgeon and scientist Josef Koncz. He was a successful surgeon and innovative pioneer in one person. Already in 1956, he started open-heart surgery and proceeded this technique in an impressing series. In 1965 he was the first in Germany who operated upon the transposition of the great vessels by Mustard's method and developed together with his long-standing assistant, Huschang Rastan, an operation technique to extend the left-ventricular outflow tract combined with tunnel-shaped subvalvular aortic valve stenosis. Another essential element of his work is related to the establishment of the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery as an independent specialty, ending in the foundation of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in 1971.

Surgical management of vascular graft infection in severely ill patients by partial resection of the infected prosthesis.

INTRODUCTION: In the presented retrospective study, we report on our results with partial resection of infected prosthetic grafts after aorto-bifemoral graft placement in eight male and three female patients. METHODS: In all 11 patients clinical signs of infection were observed and bacteriological cultures were positive. Three patients underwent immediate surgery for perforation of an aneurysm at the distal anastomosis, eight patients underwent elective surgery. In all cases silver-coated Dacron prostheses were implanted. Assessment of outcome was based on survival, limb salvage, persistent or recurrent infection, and prosthetic graft patency. RESULTS: In two cases, a partial wound dehiscence occurred which was treated with ambulant Vacuseal dressings for 16 and 21 days until secondary wound healing was achieved. In eight patients systemic markers of inflammation completed normalised within nine days. Follow-up CT-scans failed to demonstrate any signs of recurrent infection or peri-graft fluid collections. Patients were treated with specific antibiotic therapy for no more than three months. Post-operative bacteriological cultures were negative in all patients. The mean follow-up was 2.5+/-0.5 yrs. During follow-up, none of the patients died and there were no amputations. CONCLUSION: Despite only partial resection of the infected prostheses, the reported surgical procedure offers good results. This approach maybe particularly suitable for the treatment of elderly patients with prosthesis infections.

Influence of eNOS gene polymorphisms (894G/T; - 786C/T) on postoperative hemodynamics after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Differences in vascular reactivity have been associated with variable NO release due to 894G/T and -786C/T polymorphisms of the eNOS gene. Carriers of the 894T and -786C alleles are known to have enhanced vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictor stimulation due to decreased NO generation. Thus, we hypothesized that eNOS gene polymorphism could influence perioperative hemodynamics and catecholamine support in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. METHODS: In 105 patients undergoing elective CABG with CPB, systemic hemodynamics, cardiac index (CI), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance indices (SVRI, PVRI) and catecholamine support were measured at baseline and 1 h, 4 h, 10 h and 24 h after CPB. Genotyping for the 894G/T and -786C/T eNOS gene polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Patients were divided according to their genotype (894G/T: GG=group 1, GT and TT=group 2; -786C/T: TT=group 3, CT and CC=group 4). RESULTS: Genotype distribution for 894G/T polymorphism was 41% (GG), 52.4% (GT), 6.6% (TT) and for -786C/T polymorphism 37.1% (TT), 41.9% (CT) and 21% (CC). Pre- and intraoperative characteristics and systemic hemodynamics did not differ between groups. CI, SVRI and PVRI remained unaffected by genotype distribution. Statistical analysis of postoperative data revealed no difference between groups, especially for pharmacologic inotropic or vasopressor support. Also, coexistence of the 894T and -786C alleles had no impact on perioperative variables compared to homozygous 894G and -786T allele carriers. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to current suggestions, the 894G/T and -786C/T genetic polymorphisms of the eNOS gene do not influence early perioperative hemodynamics after cardiac surgery with CPB.

Effects of preoperative statin therapy on cytokines after cardiac surgery.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to their lipid-lowering action, it has been demonstrated that statins can exert direct anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the effect of preoperative statin therapy on systemic inflammatory markers and myocardial NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaB-alpha after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Thirty-six patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with cardioplegia were divided into two groups (statin group, n = 18; control group, n = 18). Plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFalpha], interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 were measured before and 1, 4, 10, and 24 hours (h) after CPB. Phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha/total IkappaB-alpha ratio was assessed before and after CPB in right atrial biopsies. RESULTS: Baseline and operative data did not differ between groups. Statin therapy was associated with lower preoperative low-density lipoprotein levels compared to control (73+/-6 vs. 92+/-6 mg/dL; P=0.03). Release of IL-6 was attenuated in the statin group at 4 h (2270+/-599 vs. 5120+/-656 pg/ml; P<0.01) and 10 h (1295+/-445 vs. 3116+/-487 pg/ml; P<0.05) compared to the control group. IL-10 increased after surgery in both groups (P<0.05), but was higher in the statin group at 1 h (66+/-15 vs. 26+/-16 pg/mL; P<0.01). Phosphorylated IkappaB-alpha/total IkappaB-alpha ratio before CPB did not differ between groups, but was elevated after CPB in both groups (P<0.05), indicating enhanced degradation of IkappaB-alpha. Statin therapy had no effect on TNFalpha and IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative statin therapy attenuates the release of pro-inflammatory IL-6 and up-regulates anti-inflammatory IL-10 after cardiac surgery with cardioplegia, but fails to inhibit phosphorylation of myocardial IkappaB-alpha.