Genetic susceptibility to inflammatory injury and various adverse outcomes

For patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures, there are multiple sources of potential end-organ injury including microgaseous and microparticulate emboli, hypoperfusion, and local and systemic inflammatory processes. These factors are independent of, but potentially synergistic with, further inherent susceptibilities resulting from patient specific co-morbidities. It is also apparent that some patients are more prone to suffer adverse outcomes than others, despite apparently similar risk profiles, giving rise to consideration of genetic susceptibilities. This review will provide a brief overview of genetic studies and the interaction between phenotype and individual patient susceptibilities with a focus on cardiac surgical procedures.