Perfusion pressure cerebral infarction (PPCI trial - a protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Debilitating brain injury occurs in 1.6-5 % of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Diffusion-weighed magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) studies have reported stroke-like lesions in up to 51 % of patients after cardiac surgery. The majority of the lesions seem to be caused by emboli, but inadequate blood flow caused by other mechanisms may increase ischaemia in the penumbra or cause watershed infarcts. During CPB, blood pressure can be below the lower limit of cerebral autoregulation.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - April 30, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Anne G Vedel, F Holmgaard, HB Ravn, JC Nilsson Source Type: research