“We should always remember about statin therapy in all cardiac and noncardiac patients, as it is highly effective and safe,” said Dr Maciej Banach, in the conclusion of his presentation “Statins therapy in patients subjected to cardiac and non-cardiac surgery”, on 30 April 2009, during the The European Society of Cardiovascular Surgery meeting, in Warsaw, Poland.
Banach, Head of Department of Hypertension at Medical University of Lodz, Poland, opened his presentation talking on cholesterol, history of statins, and investigations of use for the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Banach described a range of studies that analysed the effects of statins in cardiac and noncardiac surgery patients, before and after the procedures.
In cardiac surgery cases, Banach mentioned Nakamura et al. (2006) study, which compared the effects of atorvastatin plus aspirin vs. aspirin monotherapy on inflammatory responses, endothelial cell function and the coagulation system in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). “They observed that combined therapy might exert beneficial effects on inflammatory responses, platelet activity, vascular endothelial cell function and the coagulation system in patients subjected to CABG,” said Banach.
The Knayzer et al. (2007) study noticed that preoperative application of statins may significantly reduce the levels of troponin, and essentially improve the postoperative haemodynamic function of the heart and decrease the postoperative complications (atrial fibrillation). Banach cited studies that show benefits of statin use in reducing other possible postoperative complications (thrombocytosis, stroke, renal failure, and delirium) and included data from studies that analysed the use of statin in noncardiac surgery.
Download Banach’s presentation by clicking “Related documents” on the right.
