[Development and significance of free radical study in cardiovascular surgery]

Free radicals have just begun to be studied in medical science. There are various opinions regarding the initiator of lipid peroxidation, and there will be many new discoveries in basic medicine in the future. In cardiovascular surgery, the mechanisms of producing free radicals have gradually become clarified for ischemic-reperfusion injury of the heart or cardiopulmonary bypass, and effects of antioxidants or inhibitors are expected. As to the value of plasma lipid peroxide used ordinarily, the absolute value, the cause of lipid peroxidation and the value corrected influence of environmental factors, and the effect of lipid peroxidation should be used properly to explain the lipid peroxidation. In cardiovascular surgery the discoveries in basic medicine should be put to use. Discoveries which contribute to the advancement of free radical study may be expected, elucidation of the mechanism of lipid peroxidation should be determined, and a method for dealing with it should be established.