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Tissue injury of the viscera during open thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) reconstructions has been reported as the aftermath of the ischemia-reperfusion mechanism following supracoeliac aortic cross-clamping. Abdominal complications after open aortic reconstructions, although rare through the intraoperative implementation of selective visceral artery blood perfusion, are associated with high rates of reinterventions and a poor prognosis. Recent animal experiments demonstrated that provoking mesenteric ischemia in rats induces the leukocyte-mediated transcription of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), a chaperone belonging to the danger-associated molecular pattern proteins (DAMPs). Translating these findings clinically, we investigated the serum levels of HSP70 in patients undergoing open aortic reconstructions with supracoeliac clamping. We postoperatively observed a relevant induction of HSP70, which remained significantly elevated in cases of postoperative abdominal complications (paralytic ileus, abdominal compartment syndrome, and visceral malperfusion). The receiver–operator curve analysis revealed the reliable prognostic accuracy of HSP70 as a biomarker for these complications as soon as 12 h post-operation (AUC 0.908, sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 83.3%). In conclusion, measuring HSP70 serum levels in the early postoperative phase may serve as a further adjutant in the diagnostic decision making for both the vascular surgeon and intensivist for the timely detection and management of abdominal complications following open TAA surgery.

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