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Published on: May 14, 2013
Statin therapy: a potentially useful peri-operative intervention in patients with cardiovascular disease
B M Biccard1, J W Sear, P Foëx
1Clinical Research Fellow, Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK. bruce.biccard@nda.ox.ac.uk
Insights
Peri-operative statin administration improves cardiac outcomes in surgical patients. This cardioprotection, potentially linked to plaque stability, warrants specific recommendations for use, timing, and duration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Statins offer cardiovascular protection via lipid lowering and pleiotropic effects.
- Efficacy established in non-surgical cardiovascular disease and acute coronary events.
- Peri-operative statin use shows promise for cardiac outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence for peri-operative statin administration.
- To suggest recommendations for peri-operative statin therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on peri-operative statin use.
- Analysis of effects on short-term and long-term cardiac outcomes.
- Consideration of mechanisms like plaque stability.
Main Results:
- Peri-operative statins improve cardiac outcomes after non-cardiac and coronary bypass graft surgery.
- Cardioprotection may be independent of hemodynamic effects, possibly due to plaque stabilization.
- Recommendations for optimal use are proposed.
Conclusions:
- Peri-operative statin administration is beneficial for cardiac outcomes.
- Evidence supports specific guidelines for indications, timing, and duration.
- Consideration of withdrawal effects, safety, and cost-effectiveness is crucial.
Abstract:
Statin cardiovascular protection is mediated by lipid lowering and pleiotropic effects. The efficacy of statins has been established in non-surgical patients with cardiovascular disease and also more recently in non-surgical patients who sustain an acute coronary event. Peri-operative statin administration has been shown to improve both short-term and long-term cardiac outcome following non-cardiac and coronary bypass graft surgery. This cardioprotection may be independent of peri-operative haemodynamics due to a positive effect on plaque stability. Recommendations for the peri-operative statin administration are suggested. These include indications for peri-operative statin therapy, timing of administration, therapeutic targets, duration of administration, the adverse implications of peri-operative statin withdrawal, safety and cost-effectiveness.
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