Remote Ischemic Pre-conditioning- a long term survival for heart patients

Researchers have identified that inflating a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm instantly before heart bypass surgery could reduce threat of heart injury and enhance long-term success rate. In accordance to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 395,000 coronary artery bypass graft operations were done in the US in 2010. Heart surgery, such as coronary bypass, can usually lead to heart muscle injury, say a few scientists. It is connected to decreased long-term survival and can lead to severe health results such as strokes.

Scientists from the University School of Medicine, Germany, assessed the results of a procedure called remote ischemic preconditioning on 162 individuals planned to undergo coronary artery bypass graft operation. A control group of 167 individuals undergoing heart surgery who did not have remote ischemic preconditioning were also supervised.

Remote ischemic preconditioning is a process that consists of temporarily cutting off the blood source, then restoring it to a place away from the heart. The research, published in the Lancet, viewed at whether this method impacts long-term survival following bypass surgery, and whether or not it has benefits on other health issues, such as heart attack.

The individuals undergoing remote ischemic preconditioning were: Anesthetized before medical procedures and their blood circulation limited for 5 minutes with a standard blood pressure cuff, which was inflated on their upper left arm. Then their blood supply was restored for about 5 minutes as the cuff deflated. This process was repeated thrice.

After the surgery, the patients’ blood concentration of a substance known as troponin 1 was calculated. This substance is a biomarker protein that explains any injury to the heart muscle. Higher levels of troponin 1 means considerable injury has happened. In addition, the patients were supervised for up to four years following surgery, in order to see if remote ischemic preconditioning had any effects on their long-term wellness.

Lower risks of death: Outcomes of the research revealed that sufferers who had remote ischemic preconditioning (RIP) had troponin 1 concentration 17% lower in comparison with those who did not go through the therapy 72 hours after surgery.

One year after surgery, the results confirmed that: Patients who had RIP were 73% less likely to have died of any cause in comparison with patients who did not go through treatment. They were also 86% less probably to die from a heart attack.