title: Approaches to reduce neurologic complications during cardiac surgery.
abstract: As outcome measures of cardiac surgery are carefully analyzed, neurologic outcomes are a prominent determinant of overall outcome. Sensitive measures of pre- and postoperative neuropsychologic performance and intraoperative emboli reveal a risk group of patients at an advanced age, with severe generalized atherosclerosis who require cardiac surgery. By using the results of observational studies, we have developed a protocol that uses innovative intraoperative techniques to minimize injury and thus improve outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. jhammon@wfubmc.edu
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hammon
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stump
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Butterworth
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Moody
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors