Tick, tock … Time windows for intervention for stroke after cardiac surgery

Stroke after cardiac surgery is a devastating complication and a frequently cited disadvantage of cardiac operations to percutaneous interventions. Because the atherosclerotic process is not limited to the heart and great vessels, a higher prevalence of patients undergoing cardiac surgery have concomitant cerebrovascular disease. In addition, embolic risk is present with all cardiac surgery interventions. Consequently, much has been invested in reducing neurologic complications, with stroke now a rare occurrence (1.3%) after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Source: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Editorial Commentary Source Type: research