Cerebral oxygen desaturation is associated with early postoperative neuropsychological dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between cerebral oxygen saturation and neuropsychological dysfunction after cardiac surgery.


METHODS
Prospective and observational study.


METHODS
Operating room and cardiac floor of a university hospital.


METHODS
One hundred one patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass


METHODS
Bilateral noninvasive cerebral oxygen saturations were monitored over the forehead. The anesthetic and surgical techniques were performed as usual, and no interventions were attempted based on the monitor. Neuropsychological outcome was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the antisaccadic eye movement test (ASEM).


RESULTS
Preoperative baseline values of cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) were 58.6% +/- 10.2%. Patients with the nadir rSO(2) <35% had significantly higher incidences of postoperative ASEM and MMSE impairments than those with rSO(2) always above 35% (44% and 33% v 12% and 9%, respectively). Patients with areas of rSO(2) <40% for more than 10 minutes . % presented with a significantly higher incidence of postoperative ASEM and MMSE impairments than those with areas of rSO(2) <40% for less than 10 minutes . % (42% and 32% v 13% and 10%, respectively). Patients with postoperative ASEM or MMSE impairment had significantly lower nadir rSO(2) and significantly larger areas of rSO(2) <40%, <45%, and <50% than those with normal postoperative neuropsychological outcome. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that areas of rSO(2) <40% were the only predictor for both postoperative ASEM and MMSE impairments.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturation is associated with early postoperative neuropsychological dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, it remains to be determined whether interventions to maintain adequate cerebral oxygenation may improve neuropsychological outcome.
Yao
Fun-Sun F
FS
Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA. fuy2001@med.cornell.edu
Tseng
Chia-Chih A
CC
Ho
Chee-Yueh A
CY
Levin
Serle K
SK
Illner
Pavel
P
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen