Protective effect of remote ischemic preconditioning on infants undergoing open heart surgery

Abstract

Objective To investigate the protective effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on infants subject to cardiac surgery. Methods Forty-eighty infants were randomized into two groups: RIPC group ( n = 24) and control group ( n = 24). Blood samples were taken after the induction of anesthesia, at the end of ultrafiltration, and at 1,3, 6, 12 and 24 h after ICU arrival for determination of plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations. The pulmonary functional data including artery blood oxygen pressure (PaO2), airway resistance, oxygenation index (OI) and pulmonary compliance were recorded. Results Levels of plasma cTnI were lower in RIPC group than in control group, but there was no significant difference ( P ＞ 0. 05). Levels of plasma cTnI at 3 h after ICU arrival in RIPC group were markedly lower than in control group ( 10. 8 ± 8.5 vs. 16. 3 ± 15.9,P ＜ 0. 01 ). The ICU time in RIPC group was significantly longer than in control group[(4 ± 2) days vs. (3 ± 1 ) days,P ＜ 0. 05 )]. Conclusion RIPC appears to protect the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury, but can not improve the pulmonary function or the postoperative clinical course in the settings of cardiac surgery of infants. Key words: Ischemic preconditioning; Cardiopulmonary bypass; Infant