Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract

Ischemia contributes to the pathogenesis of many perioperative clinical conditions. Although restoration of blood flow to an ischemic organ is essential to prevent irreversible cellular injury, reperfusion may augment tissue injury in excess of that produced by ischemia alone. Thus, cellular damage after reperfusion of previously viable ischemic tissue is defined as ischemia-reperfusion injury. The basic pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic strategies for the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury are reviewed.