Objective: Ischaemic preconditioning (IP) is the most effective procedure for endogenous myocardial protection. However, studies on the effects of IP in cardiac surgery are rare and controversial. The present aim was to investigate whether IP improves the haemodynamic recovery of CABG patients.
Design: The study included 40 stable CABG patients with 3-vessel disease, randomized into an IP group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). In the IP group two cycles of 2-min ischaemia following 3-min reperfusion before cross-clamping were induced. The haemodynamics of the patients were followed-up to the first postoperative morning.
Results: The cardiac index decreased at 1 and 6 h after surgery in the control group but increased in the IP group (-0.33 vs 0.09 l/min/m2, p = 0.02 and -0.15 vs 0.57 l/min/m2, p = 0.001, respectively). Depressions in the left ventricular stroke work index and the right ventricular stroke work index at 6 h after surgery were more severe in controls and were statistically significant (p = 0.049 and 0.007, respectively). Less inotropic support was used in the IP group. There were no differences in serum CK-MB, cardiac troponin I, myoglobin or lactate values between the two groups.
Conclusion: IP has a beneficial effect on left ventricular haemodynamic recovery after a CABG operation.