Do Statins Have a Role in the Promotion of Postoperative Wound Healing in Cardiac Surgical Patients?

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 98; no. 2; pp. 756 - 764
• Main Authors: Fitzmaurice, Gerard J., MRCSI, MS, McWilliams, Billy, MS, Nölke, Lars, FRCS (CTh), Redmond, J. Mark, MD, FRCS (CTh), McGuinness, Jonathan G., PhD, FRCS (CTh), O'Donnell, Mark E., MD, FRCS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Surgery; Wound Healing - drug effects; NO; eNOS; interferon-γ; FPP; platelet-derived growth factor; IFN-γ; basic fibroplastic growth factor; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; insulin-like growth factor; interleukin; keratinocyte growth factor; nitric oxide; IL; EGF; 16; VEGF; 18; HMG-CoA; IGF; KGF; bFGF; TGF; PDGF; vascular endothelial growth factor; 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A; epidermal growth factor; transforming growth factor; farnesyl pyrophosphate
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.02.089

Cardiac surgical patients often have associated comorbidities that can impede normal wound healing; however, statin therapy has the potential to improve this process through augmentation of the normal inflammatory response. Outcomes included a 30% earlier rate of wound epithelialization and an 80% greater wound-breaking strength combined with faster wound healing rates (13.0 days vs 18.7 days, p < 0.0001). Inhibition of farnesyl pyrophosphate may hold a key role in the mediation of such advantageous effects. This systematic review suggests that there is sufficient evidence to warrant completion of a human trial to assess the effects of statins on wound healing.