title: Effect of Core Temperature and Embolic Load During Cardiac Surgery on Motion Perception.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cognitive decline post-cardiac surgery is of clinical concern. To better understand it a sensitive and specific measure of post-surgery brain impairment is required. The cerebral territory most likely to be adversely affected by surgery is the posterior "watershed" territory.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have designed a psychophysical task involving reading letters defined by motion aimed at measuring the integrity of a cortical area (MT) located in this territory. Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and a healthy control group were given the psychophysical test twice, pre- and post-surgery for the patient group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no overall difference in performance between the surgery group and the control group at either pre- or post-surgery testing. However, multivariate analysis of surgical variables such as body temperature and embolic load to the brain as measured by Transcranial Doppler showed that patients with warmer core temperatures and higher embolic loads performed significantly worse on the motion defined letter reading tasks than those with more favourable surgical variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that high embolic load and warm core body temperatures lead to poor motion perception post-cardiac surgery, implying damage to the posterior watershed cortex.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Unit, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, NSW, Newcastle, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: neva.bull@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Neva J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, NSW, Newcastle, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Alyna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, and School of Medical Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, NSW, Newcastle, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
keywords: Cardiac bypass grafting; Cardiac surgery; Cognitive impairment; Emboli; Hypothermia; Motion perception