Effects of inorganic nitrate on ischaemia-reperfusion injury after coronary artery bypass surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system with protective properties in ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Inorganic nitrate, an oxidation product of endogenous NO production and a constituent in our diet, can be recycled back to bioactive NO. We investigated if preoperative administration of inorganic nitrate could reduce troponin T release and other plasma markers of injury to the heart, liver, kidney, and brain in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 82 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Oral sodium nitrate (700 mg×2) or placebo (NaCl) were administered before surgery. Biomarkers of ischaemia-reperfusion injury and plasma nitrate and nitrite were collected before and up to 72 h after surgery. Troponin T release was our predefined primary endpoint and biomarkers of renal, liver, and brain injury were secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were elevated in nitrate-treated patients compared with placebo. The 72-h release of troponin T did not differ between groups. Other plasma biomarkers of organ injury were also similar between groups. Blood loss was not a predefined outcome parameter, but perioperative bleeding was 18% less in nitrate-treated patients compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of inorganic nitrate did not influence troponin T release or other plasma biomarkers of organ injury in cardiac surgery. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01348971.

Intravascular microdialysis as a method for measuring glucose and lactate during and after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate intravascular microdialysis as a method for measuring blood glucose and lactate in a clinical setting during and after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Ten patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included. A microdialysis catheter was percutaneously placed in the superior vena cava or right atrium. Glucose and lactate values measured by the microdialysis technique were analyzed and compared with reference methods, i.e., arterial and venous blood gas values, once every hour up to 24 hours postoperatively. Laboratory plasma glucose was additionally analyzed every 4 hours for reference value. RESULTS: Mean absolute differences were low between microdialysis and reference methods for both glucose and lactate values. All microdialysis glucose values were in the clinically acceptable zone of error grid analysis when compared with plasma glucose values. Accuracy of glucose values was 92% according to International Organization for Standardization criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular microdialysis is a novel and promising technique for real-time and accurate measurement of glucose and lactate during and after open heart surgery. Development of sensor technology may allow for continuous measurement of blood glucose and lactate using intravascular microdialysis.