We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Preoperative Statins Improve Post-Surgical AAA Survival

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 02 Oct 2018
Print article
Administering statins prior to abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is associated with higher long-term survival, according to a new study.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC; Boston, MA, USA), Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH; Boston, USA), and other institutions conducted a registry-based study that included 37,950 patients that underwent AAA repairs (29,257 endovascular and 8,693 open) without documented statin intolerance. The primary analysis evaluated associations between preoperative statin therapy and long-term mortality, 30-day mortality, in-hospital myocardial infarction (MI), and in-hospital stroke. In all, 69% of the patients were taking a statin before surgery.

The results revealed that preoperative statin therapy was not associated with 30-day death, stroke, or MI. However, patients taking statins preoperatively showed higher one and five year survival, compared with those who were not. Of those not taking a statin preoperatively and discharged alive, 24% started on a statin before discharge. Again, the results revealed that patients that initiated statin therapy before discharge experienced higher survival at one and five years, with the greatest survival difference seen in patients with rupture (87% versus 62%). The study was published in the August 2018 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

“Preoperative statin therapy is associated with higher long-term survival but not perioperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing AAA repair, and initiating statin therapy in previously statin-naive patients is associated with markedly higher survival,” concluded lead author Thomas O'Donnell, MD, of BIDMC, and colleagues. “All patients with AAAs without contraindications should receive statin therapy. In patients not taking a statin at the time of AAA repair, clinicians should consider initiating one before discharge.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA), cholesterol-lowering medication is used by 28% of Americans over the age of 40, and statins account for more than 90% of these drugs. Statins also have immunomodulatory and peripheral anti-inflammatory properties that are independent of their lipid-lowering action, which could explain their effect following AAA surgery.

Related Links:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
NPWT Unit
VT•100

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.