| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6251938 | International Journal of Surgery | 2014 | 7 Pages |
â¢Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) may reduce perioperative risk.â¢Its mechanism is thought to involve neural and humoral elements.â¢Multiple proof of concept studies have shown benefits in a range of interventions.â¢Convincing benefits regarding patient important outcomes are lacking.â¢Results from large-scale clinical trials are awaited.
Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a phenomenon whereby brief episodes of non-lethal ischaemia in one organ or tissue can render a distant organ or tissue resistant to subsequent longer ischaemic insults. It represents an exciting perioperative risk reduction strategy as it allows cardioprotection (and organ protection in general) from injuries that are caused by multiple mechanisms. Several proof of concept studies show benefits in cardiovascular interventions and in a variety of other procedures. However convincing and consistent evidence of benefits in patient important outcomes is lacking but may emerge with the completion of large scale studies. This article aims to provide a concise review of the origins and concepts of RIPC. It will revisit the biological theories of RIPC and the clinical applications thus far. The article concludes by discussing the current status of multi-centre cardiovascular RIPC research and the future challenges that investigators must overcome.
