Cerebral Complications of Cardiac Surgery
Neurologic complications (frequency about 1%): unresponsiveness after surgery, signs of cerebral infarction on awakening, stroke after surgery, dementia without focal signs. Transient encephalopathy after 3% to 12% of operations. Severe cognitive disability in 2% of patients 6 months after surgery.
Pathogenesis possibilities: atheromatous embolism, perioperative hypotension, air embolism. Important factors: oxygenator, cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, body temperature, arterial blood gases; arterial line filters.
Other risk factors for cerebral complications: infective endocarditis, prior cardiac operations, impaired left ventricular function, low cardiac output, sepsis, toxemia, impaired hemostasis.Related posts:
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
