The relationship between visceral ischemia, proinflammatory cytokines, and organ injury in patients undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract
Plasma proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory cytokine, and soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor concentrations were examined in hospitalized patients after abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair, with and without left atrial femoral bypass. Changes in plasma cytokine concentrations were related to the duration of visceral ischemia and the frequency rate of postoperative, single, or multiple system organ dysfunction (MSOD). Prospective, observational study. Two academic referral centers in the United States and The Netherlands. We included 16 patients undergoing TAAA repair without left atrial femoral bypass, 12 patients undergoing TAAA repair with left atrial femoral bypass, and nine patients undergoing infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair. Timed, arterial blood sampling for proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine and soluble TNF receptor concentrations (p55 and p75), and prospective assessment of postoperative single and MSOD. Plasma appearance of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 peaked 1 to 4 hrs after TAAA repair, and concentrations were significantly elevated compared with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (p p Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair results in the increased plasma appearance of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and shed TNF receptors. The frequency and magnitude of postoperative organ dysfunction after TAAA repair is associated with an increased concentration of the cytokines, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the increased plasma levels of these cytokines appear to require extended visceral ischemia times.