Overview
Patients undergoing heart valve surgery require cardiopulmonary bypass, a procedure that can lead to a temporary reduction in blood flow to major organs and subsequent ischemia-reperfusion injury, thereby triggering postoperative complications such as acute kidney injury and delirium. Current treatments for these complications primarily involve pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Pharmacological interventions are not routinely employed due to limited supporting evidence, while non-pharmacological interventions are labor-intensive and lack systemic protective effects; thus, there is an urgent need for a systemic, non-pharmacological intervention that is easy to implement. This study aims to investigate the organ-protective effects of remote ischemic preconditioning-administered at different time points-following heart valve surgery, with the goal of developing a safe, effective, and clinically scalable nursing intervention protocol. Through this research, the investigators hope to further reduce the incidence of postoperative complications and improve clinical outcomes and prognoses for patients undergoing heart valve surgery.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients aged ≥18 years who are scheduled for elective CPB mitral and/or aortic valve surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease stage 4-5, or have been receiving long-term renal replacement therapy
- Preoperative renal function impairment (eGFR \< 30 ml·min-¹·1.73 m-²)
- Severe peripheral vascular disease, thrombosis, etc.
- History of mental illness or mild cognitive impairment (using Mini-Cog screening, score \< 3)
- Combined surgical procedures (such as coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic dissection repair, and ascending aortic reconstruction) were excluded to minimize the potential impact of variations in surgical complexity on the risk of complications and the outcomes of the intervention
- Diagnosed with myocardial infarction, systemic infection, or sepsis within 7 days
- Participated in other clinical studies


