Prospective Observational Study to Evaluate Glycocalyx Alteration in Major Abdominal and Thoracic Surgery

Background:

The glycocalyx is a fundamental component of the endothelial barrier and alterations at this level have been shown to exacerbate the inflammatory response in the microcirculation. Its degradation in the surgical patient, has been tested in interventions that involve regional or general ischemia, for example in cardiac surgery, major vascular surgery or transplantation. On interventions that do not involve ischemic events the literature is limited, such is the case of those patients undergoing major abdominal and thoracic surgery.

Objective:

Assess whether there is a glycocalyx degradation in major elective abdominal and thoracic surgery, measured as an increase in plasma syndecane-1 levels during the first 24 hours of postoperative care.

Methodology:

Prospective observational study in patients undergoing major elective thoracic and abdominal surgery at the University Hospital Vall d´Hebrón. Measurement of the syndecane-1 plasma levels are going to be done during the first 24 hours after the intervention. It is intended to evaluate whether its elevation is related to anesthetic perioperative factors, and if it has an impact con morbildity and mortality in the following 6 months after the procedure.