Microemboli on Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Should We Care?

CENTRAL nervous system complications after cardiac surgery range from subtle cognitive impairment to clinically evident delirium, confusion, and stroke. It also is important to recognize that even without apparent clinical presentation, a significant number of older patients are diagnosed with covert stroke after both cardiac1 and noncardiac2 surgery. Several mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of these processes, including global or regional cerebral hypoperfusion, cerebral embolism, and neuroinflammation.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research