Neurological impact of emboli during adult cardiac surgery

Patel, Nikil; Banahan, Caroline; Janus, Justyna; Horsfield, Mark A.; Cox, Anthony; Marshall, David; Colman, Jordan; Morlese, John; Evans, David H.; Hannon, Claire; Egan, Vincent; Garrard, Peter; Hague, James P. and Chung, Emma M.L. (2020). Neurological impact of emboli during adult cardiac surgery. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 416, article no. 117006.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2020.117006

Abstract

Objectives: This study draws on advances in Doppler ultrasound bubble sizing to investigate whether high volumes of macro-bubbles entering the brain during cardiac surgery increase the risk of new cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), ischemic MR lesions, or post-operative cognitive decline (POCD).
Methods: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound recordings were analysed to estimate numbers of emboli and macrobubbles (>100 μm) entering the brain during cardiac surgery. Logistic regression was used to explore the hypothesis that emboli characteristics affect the incidence of new brain injuries identified through pre- and post-operative MRI and neuropsychological testing.
Results: TCD, MRI, and neuropsychological test data were compared between 28 valve and 18 CABG patients. Although valve patients received over twice as many emboli per procedure [median: 1995 vs. 859, p = .004], and seven times as many macro-bubbles [median: 218 vs. 28, p = .001], high volumes of macrobubbles were not found to be significantly associated with new CMBs, new ischaemic lesions, or POCD. The odds of acquiring new CMBs increased by approximately 5% [95% CI: 1 to 10%] for every embolus detected in the first minute after the release of the aortic cross-clamp (AxC). Logistic regression models also confirmed previous findings that cardiopulmonary bypass time and valve surgery were significant predictors for new CMBs (both p = .03). Logistic regression analysis estimated an increase in the odds of acquiring new CMBs of 6% [95% CI: 1 to 12%] for every minute of bypass time over 91 mins.
Conclusions: This small study provides new information about the properties and numbers of bubbles entering the brain during surgery, but found no evidence to substantiate a direct link between large numbers of macrobubbles and adverse cognitive or MR outcome.

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