Ischaemia-reperfusion injury and regional inflammatory responses in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
OBJECTIVE
The inflammatory response to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is likely to result in response to an ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) to the lower-limbs and gastrointestinal tract. This paper reviews the pathogenesis of the inflammatory response to abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, with specific reference to the levels of evidence in the current literature regarding the potential origin of the inflammatory response.


METHODS
Review article.


METHODS
The current literature (1966 to August 2003) was reviewed specifically for all articles employing techniques of regional blood sampling from the venous drainage of the lower limbs or gastrointestinal tract during abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.


RESULTS
Ten relevant studies were identified. These demonstrated that regional blood sampling techniques could be easily performed, and provided useful information regarding the potential sites of origin of the inflammatory response.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional blood sampling techniques provide useful information regarding the potential sites of origin of the inflammatory response. Current evidence suggests that both the lower limbs and gastrointestinal tract are clearly important in their roles, however more work is now required to compare directly the roles and contributions of the lower limbs and gastrointestinal tract to the inflammatory response during abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
M G A
MG
Norwood
M J
MJ
Bown
R D
RD
Sayers
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology*
D004731:Endotoxins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species