Findings that are going to be published in February in the Journal, The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, suggested that drugs used to decrease cholesterol levels in the blood, statins, seems to be useful to cut cardiac complications in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), when taken before and after the operation.

They have apparently shown that risks of dying during and post surgery are likely to be less as compared to when statins aren’t consumed. Besides, the complications that rise post surgery, like atrial fibrillation, can be decreased.

Statins are used to cut cholesterol levels in the blood, which hinder the production of the substance in the liver, while lowering down bad cholesterol levels and raising good cholesterol levels.

MedlinePlus from the US National Library of Medicine mentioned that statins also slow down the plaques formation in the arteries.

Besides having properties of reducing cholesterol levels, statins are also good to avoid inflammation. If it is so, then, postoperative complications, associated with inflammatory reactions that are a result of being exposed to long phases of anesthesia when people undergo CABG surgery, can be decreased.

With a motive to evaluate statins’ effect in CABG surgeries, the group of researchers studied its effects while patients consumed it before and after surgery. F. Barakat, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, has motive physicians to observe the potential advantages of statins.

Barakat said, “Previous research has shown that discontinuation of the medication at time of surgery is common practice. Results of our review call for proactive efforts to counsel patients and surgeons about statins’ benefit– a benefit that definitely outweighs risk of rare potential side effects”. It was mentioned that the side effects caused by statins are perhaps not relevant if compared to its benefits.