Prediction of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Using Damage-associated Molecular Patterns in Adult Cardiac Surgery

DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns) are endogenous molecules expressed as a result of cell stress or damage. They play a crucial role in tissue or host defense and repair by activating the innate immune system. This differs from cases of infections or injuries. In a nutshell, the process begins when the immune system is triggered by a receptor that recognizes a damage pattern. DAMPs is a broad term encompassing continuous responses by endogenous molecules expressed during this process. More recently, there has been a growing focus on using this immune response for cancer treatment through immuno-cancer drugs. In cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), various types of damage occur, including intravascular cannulation, exposure to the surface of the bypass circuit, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and surgical injury (operative trauma). During this process, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns) takes place. This leads to a response similar to sterile systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). As a result of this process, patients become more vulnerable to post-surgery infections or remote organ failure due to immune suppression.

Several studies have explored the link between DAMPs and the extent of complications by assessing tissue damage resulting from CPB usage. However, there is no study on the relationship between the occurrence of pulmonary complications and DAMPs in cardiac surgery, and therefore the authors aimed to determine changes in DMAPs over time during, and after cardiac surgery and the differences in DAMPs according to the presence or absence of postoperative pulmonary complications.