El estrés oxidativo en el perioperatorio: implicaciones clínicas.

The trauma of surgery induces systemic stress that alters homeostasis and develops postoperative complications, particularly in high-risk patients. Surgical stress is produced by an acute inflammatory process and by the imbalance between the levels of pro-oxidant molecules and the activity of antioxidant systems. This imbalance is known as oxidative stress (OS). These two mechanisms underlie perioperative complications are reduced with anaesthetic management since some anaesthetics have antioxidant capacity. OS could negatively impact all forms of major surgery, particularly in elderly patients and patients with comorbidities. This review aims to present the concept and cellular bases of OS and its relationship with the most common complications in the perioperative period of cardiac and noncardiac surgery, as well as the quantitative determination of the level of OS through serum biomarkers. Furthermore, the effect of anaesthetics on OS and the use of antioxidant therapies in preventing postoperative complications induced by OS are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]