[Postconditioning: a brief review].

Preconditioning is the most effective form of cardioprotection that can be induced via different interventions before a longer-lasting ischemia (= index ischemia). Preconditioning can be induced by short bouts of ischemia, several pharmaceuticals (e.g., adenosine), and volatile anesthetics. A brief ischemia of an organ other than the heart can likewise initiate protection of the heart, which has been called preconditioning at a distance or remote preconditioning. According to the more recent literature, short bouts of ischemia after an index ischemia can also initiate cardioprotection, e.g., improve postischemic dysfunction or reduce infarct size, which has been called postconditioning. Such a postconditioning can also be elicited at a distant organ, termed remote postconditioning. It is the aim of this short review to characterize preconditioning and in particular postconditioning, describe possible mechanisms, and call attention to the clinical relevance.