Statin Drugs to Prevent Complications During Surgery
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery frequently experience perioperative cardiac
complications that may be due to excess inflammatory reactions. Lipid lowering drugs called
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins, have anti-inflammatory effects. Although favourable
evidence suggests these drugs could also prevent perioperative cardiac complications,
definitive evidence of anti-inflammatory effects and benefit is lacking. The purpose of this
study to measure the impact of a atorvastatin on patients undergoing surgery. It will attempt
to determine the speed of drug effect as measured by the impact the drug has on the levels of
the inflammatory mediator called C-reactive protein after surgery. It is hypothesized that
the perioperative use of atorvastatin will safely reduce the postoperative rise in CRP levels
at 48 hours after elective vascular surgery. This effect, would then translate into a
reduction of adverse perioperative complications including reduction in postoperative
myocardial ischemia episodes (as measured through Holter monitoring).
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Collaborators:
Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario