Abstract
The reduction of post-cardiac surgery infections by statins: solid evidence?
Highlights
Infectious complications following cardiac surgery are associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs [1]
They are recognised for their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. Because of these so-called pleiotropic effects, statins may be beneficial for the prevention of post-cardiac surgery infectious complications. In this issue of the journal, Hartholt et al report in a retrospective cohort analysis of 520 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, that preoperative statin therapy was associated with a 67 % reduced risk of postoperative infections [3]
In the study by Kayani et al, preoperative statin therapy was associated with an overall reduction of post-cardiac surgery infections, and mainly concerned a reduction of surgical site infections but not pneumonia and sepsis
Summary
Infectious complications following cardiac surgery are associated with increased mortality, prolonged hospital stay and increased health care costs [1]. Because of these so-called pleiotropic effects, statins may be beneficial for the prevention of post-cardiac surgery infectious complications. In this issue of the journal, Hartholt et al report in a retrospective cohort analysis of 520 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], valve surgery, aortic surgery, or other), that preoperative statin therapy was associated with a 67 % reduced risk of postoperative infections
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