title: Aortic atherosclerosis and postoperative neurological dysfunction in elderly coronary surgical patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta is an important risk factor for cerebral embolism. However, the association between arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta and neurologic dysfunction after coronary artery surgery has not been evaluated prospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined whether varying degrees of arteriosclerosis in the ascending aorta, assessed by epiaortic ultrasonography, increased the incidence of neuropsychologic dysfunction and stroke in 463 elderly patients (> or = 60 years old) after coronary artery surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with severe arteriosclerosis (n = 76) had higher rates of postoperative neuropsychologic dysfunction (26%) and intraoperative stroke (10.5%); the moderately atherosclerotic patients (n = 57) had rates of 7% and 1.8%, respectively; whereas control patients (almost normal or mild arteriosclerosis, n = 330) had rates of 8% and 1.2%, respectively (all p < 0.001). Univariate analysis indicated that multiple small infarctions or broad infarctions, cerebral arterial stenosis, circulatory arrest, maximal thickness of intima around the site of aortic manipulation, and deformities due to clamp or cannulation were associated significantly with intraoperative strokes in patients with severe arteriosclerosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta significantly increased the risk of postoperative neuropsychologic dysfunction and stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting. If a thick plaque is noted near the manipulation site, a nontouch method of the ascending aorta should be applied to reduce the incidence of neurologic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kumamoto Chuo Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan. togoto@bronze.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ura
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koshiji
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis