title: Pulsatile versus non-pulsatile flow to reduce cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass surgery: A randomized prospective clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this prospective study, we aimed to compare the effect of pulsatile and non-pulsatile flow on the cognitive functions in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients scheduled for their first coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 148) were randomly assigned to the pulsatile flow group (Group A, n = 75) or non-pulsatil group (Group B, n = 73). Cognitive performance was assessed with (MoCA) montreal cognitive assessment test performed by psychologists before coronary artery bypass surgery and 1 month after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild cognitive impairment was seen in 12 (16%) patients and serious cognitive impairment was seen in 1 (1.33%) patient in the pulsatile flow group. In the other group, mild cognitive impairment was detected in 23 (31.50%) patients and serious cognitive decline was found in 3 (4.10%) patients. Mean MoCA scores were 25.86 ± 2.62 in group A and 22.12 ± 2.20 in group B. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that pulsatile flow has beneficial effects to decrease cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir University, Izmir 35000, Turkey.
authors.forename: Koray
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aykut
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzeloglu
authors.forename: Eyup
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hazan
authors.forename: Muge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tufekci
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erdoğan
keywords: Cognitive dysfunction; Coronary artery bypass surgery; On-pump
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