Sixty-five patients were enrolled (32: control and 33: RIPC-RIPostC). In the RIPC-RIPostC group, four cycles of 5 min ischaemia and 5 min reperfusion were administered before and after CPB to the upper limb. Peri-operative PaO2/FIO2 ratio, intra-operative pulmonary shunt, and dynamic and static lung compliance were determined.
The mean PaO2/ FIO2 was significantly higher in the RIPC-RIPostC group at 24h after surgery [290 (96) vs. 387 (137), p = 0.001]. The incidence of mechanical ventilation for longer than 48h was significantly higher in the control group (23% vs. 3%, p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in other pulmonary profiles, post-operative mechanical ventilation time, and duration of intensive care unit stay.
In our study, RIPC-RIPostC improved the post-operative 24h PaO2/FIO2 ratio. Remote ischaemic preconditioning-Remote ischaemic postconditioning has limited and delayed pulmonary protective effects in cardiac surgery patients with CPB.