Remote Ischemic Preconditioning for Cardiac Surgery: Reflections on Evidence of Efficacy

A commentary and follow-up comment on last year's ERICCA and RIPHeart- related publications in the NEJM. The Kansas colleagues re iterate the negative findings on the utility of ischemic preconditioning in these two European RCT's performed in 'everyday polymorbid' patients. They also lament the trials and tribulations of translational research using ischemic preconditioning as an example.