title: Effect of preoperative statin therapy on myocardial protection and morbidity endpoints following off-pump coronary bypass surgery in patients with elevated C-reactive protein level.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preoperative statin therapy on myocardial protection and morbidity endpoints following off-pump coronary bypass graft surgery (OPCAB) in patients with elevated serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 492 patients who underwent multivessel OPCAB from March 2007 to February 2009, the records of 144 patients whose baseline hs-CRP level > 2 mg/L were reviewed. According to the history of preoperative statin therapy for at least one week, patients were classified as either statin group or control group (72 subjects each). Preoperative and operative characteristics and postoperative data including troponin (Tn)-T level and major morbidity endpoints were obtained and compared. Major morbidity endpoints were defined as permanent stroke, renal dysfunction, hemostatic re-exploration, deep sternal wound infection, and the number of patients requiring prolonged ventilation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative and operative characteristics were similar between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the incidence of morbidity endpoints between the two groups, except for the number of patients requiring dialysis, which was significantly lower in the statin group (8 vs. 1, P = 0.033). Tn-T level at 24 h after surgery was also significantly lower in the statin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we observed beneficial effects of preoperative statin therapy for at least one week in terms of less myocardial enzyme release and fewer patients requiring dialysis following OPCAB in patients whose preoperative hs-CRP was elevated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Young Lan
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Yong Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jong Chan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Baek
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Jae Kwang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shim