Purpose of review: This review evaluates clinical and experimental articles that have recently been published on the cardioprotective effect of perioperative statin therapy.
Recent findings: Perioperative statin therapy improves short and long-term cardiac outcome following noncardiac surgery. This cardiovascular protection has been attributed to the so-called pleiotropic effects, which have a positive effect on plaque stability. With no clinical studies reporting an increased incidence of adverse effects of perioperative statin use, it appears to be a safe and helpful therapeutic option.
Summary: Perioperative statin therapy may stabilize coronary plaques due to pleiotropic effects and results in a reduction of perioperative cardiovascular complications.