title: Central nervous system protection in cardiac surgery.
abstract: Neurological dysfunction and stroke following cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery requiring hypothermic circulatory arrest is a well-defined problem. The original studies in CABG patients identified risk factors, such as prior stroke and lower educational level. There is older evidence suggesting that higher perfusion pressures during cardiopulmonary bypass are helpful. Hyperthermia during rewarming on cardiopulmonary bypass and postoperative hyperthermia have been associated with adverse cognitive outcomes. Glucose management intraoperatively remains controversial, but most now advocate for moderate glucose control using insulin, if required. The subset of patients having thoracic aortic surgery requiring periods of aortic discontinuity are particularly problematic. A cerebral protection strategy should be determined, and this may include hypothermic circulatory arrest, selective cerebral perfusion, or retrograde cerebral perfusion. All of these techniques have been associated with good surgical outcomes, but there is little information on cognitive outcomes of thoracic aortic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. davidreichscva@yahoo.com
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Reich
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004522:Educational Status; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin