Targeting oxidative stress in surgery: Effects of ageing and therapy

In the current era cardiac surgeons are being called upon to operate upon older, sicker patients. The effect is to augment oxidative stress and increase the rate of post-operative complications and ultimately mortality. We have developed antioxidant-based pre-treatment regimes initially based on coenzyme Q10. A randomised trial of coenzyme Q10 in elective cardiac surgery patients demonstrated augmented plasma and cardiac mitochondrial membrane coenzyme Q10 content, improved mitochondrial respiration and increased myocardial tolerance of oxidative stress. The addition of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-lipoic acid, selenium and magnesium orotate in a second clinical trial, improved post-operative recovery with demonstrable reductions in myocardial damage, rate of atrial fibrillation and length of hospital stay. Finally we performed a pilot study of this combined metabolic therapy regimen to which we added preoperative physical exercise and mental stress reduction with indications of further improvements in post-operative recovery. We conclude that simultaneously targeting a number of key deficiencies with a metabolic formulation prior to surgery results in peri- and post-operative clinical and economic benefits.