Remote ischaemic preconditioning influences the levels of acylcarnitines in vascular surgery: a randomised clinical trial

Effects of RIPC on the Metabolomical Profile during Lower Limb Digital Subtraction Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has demonstrated protective effects in patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) undergoing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and/or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This study aimed to investigate the impact of RIPC on the metabolomical profile of LEAD patients undergoing these procedures and to elucidate its potential underlying mechanisms. A total of 100 LEAD patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the RIPC group (n = 46) or the sham group (n = 54). Blood samples were drawn before and 24 h after intervention. Targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using the AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit, and changes in metabolite concentrations were compared between the groups. The RIPC group demonstrated significantly different dynamics in nine metabolites compared to the sham group, which generally showed a decrease in metabolite concentrations. The impacted metabolites included glutamate, taurine, the arginine-dimethyl-amide-to-arginine ratio, lysoPC a C24:0, lysoPC a C28:0, lysoPC a C26:1, PC aa C38:1, PC ae C30:2, and PC ae C44:3. RIPC exhibited a 'stabilization' effect, maintaining metabolite levels amidst ischemia-reperfusion injuries, suggesting its role in enhancing metabolic control. This may improve outcomes for LEAD patients. However, additional studies are needed to definitively establish causal relationships among these metabolic changes.

Remote ischaemic preconditioning versus no remote ischaemic preconditioning for vascular and endovascular surgical procedures

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in perioperative care, elective major vascular surgical procedures still carry a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) is the temporary blocking of blood flow to vascular beds remote from those targeted by surgery. It has the potential to provide local tissue protection from further prolonged periods of ischaemia. However, the efficacy and safety of RIPC in people undergoing major vascular surgery remain unknown. This is an update of a review published in 2011.  OBJECTIVES: To assess the benefits and harms of RIPC versus no RIPC in people undergoing elective major vascular and endovascular surgery.

SEARCH METHODS

The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL databases and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov to 1 April 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included all randomised controlled trials that evaluated the role of RIPC in reducing perioperative mortality and morbidities in people undergoing elective major vascular or endovascular surgery.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We collected data on the characteristics of the trial, methodological quality, and the remote ischaemic preconditioning stimulus used. Our primary outcome was perioperative mortality, and secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, renal impairment, stroke, hospital stay, limb loss, and operating time or total anaesthetic time. We analysed the data using random-effects models. For each outcome, we calculated the risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) based on an intention-to-treat analysis. In addition, we used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 14 trials which randomised a total of 1295 participants (age range: 64.5 to 76 years; 84% male; study periods ranged from 2003 to 2019). In general, the included studies were at low to unclear risk of bias for most risk of bias domains. The certainty of evidence of main outcomes was moderate due to imprecision of results, moderate heterogeneity, or possible publication bias. We found that RIPC made no clear difference in perioperative mortality compared with no RIPC (RR 1.41, 95% CI 0.59 to 3.40; I2 = 0%; 10 studies, 965 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Similarly, we found no clear difference between the two groups for myocardial infarction (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.40; I2 = 7%; 11 studies, 1001 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), renal impairment (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.86; I2 = 40%; 12 studies, 1054 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), stroke (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.04 to 3.15; I2 = 0%; 4 studies, 392 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), limb loss (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.05 to 10.61; I2 = 32%; 3 studies, 322 participants; low-certainty evidence), hospital stay (MD -0.94 day, 95% CI -1.95 to 0.07; I2 = 17%; 7 studies, 569 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), and operating time or total anaesthetic time (MD 5.76 minutes, 95% CI -3.25 to 14.76; I2 = 44%; 10 studies, 803 participants; moderate-certainty evidence).  AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Overall, compared with no RIPC, RIPC probably leads to little or no difference in perioperative mortality, myocardial infarction, renal impairment, stroke, hospital stay, and operating time, and may lead to little or no difference in limb loss in people undergoing elective major vascular and endovascular surgery. Adequately powered and designed randomised studies are needed, focusing in particular on the clinical endpoints and patient-centred outcomes.

Effects of RIPC on the Metabolome in Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) is a phenomenon in which short episodes of ischemia are applied to distant organs to prepare target organs for more prolonged ischemia and to induce protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study aims to evaluate whether preoperatively performed RIPC affects the metabolome and to assess whether metabolomic changes correlate with heart and kidney injury markers after vascular surgery.

METHODS

a randomized sham-controlled, double-blinded trial was conducted at Tartu University Hospital. Patients undergoing elective open vascular surgery were recruited and RIPC was applied before operation. Blood was collected preoperatively and 24 h postoperatively. The metabolome was analyzed using the AbsoluteIDQ p180 Kit.

RESULTS

final analysis included 45 patients from the RIPC group and 47 from the sham group. RIPC did not significantly alter metabolites 24 h postoperatively. There was positive correlation of change in the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio with change in hs-troponin T (r = 0.570, p < 0.001), NT-proBNP (r = 0.552, p < 0.001), cystatin C (r = 0.534, p < 0.001) and beta-2-microglobulin (r = 0.504, p < 0.001) only in the RIPC group.

CONCLUSIONS

preoperative RIPC did not significantly affect the metabolome 24 h after vascular surgery. The positive linear correlation of kynurenine/tryptophan ratio with heart and kidney injury markers suggests that the kynurenine-tryptophan pathway can play a role in RIPC-associated cardio- and nephroprotective effects.