title: The use of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement in determining the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures on the optic nerve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aim was to determine the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures on the optic nerve by retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was measured using the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyser, 1 day before the surgery and on postoperative days 1, 5 and 30 in 20 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative mean values for retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, except symmetry on the first day and except symmetry and superior nasal ratio on the fifth day, were statsitically decreased. Only the value for the inferior ratio was significantly lower at the end of the first month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiopulmonary bypass procedures cause a temporary decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey. mustafabuyukates@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buyukates
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kargi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kandemir
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktunc
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atalay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*