Cerebral dysfunction after coronary artery bypass surgery

Cerebral dysfunction after cardiac surgery remains a devastating complication and is growing in importance with our aging populations. Neurological complications following cardiac surgery can be classified broadly as stroke, encephalopathy (including delirium), or postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). These etiologies are caused primary by cerebral emboli, hypoperfusion, or inflammation that has largely been attributed to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Preventative operative strategies, such as off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), can potentially reduce the incidence of postoperative neurological complications by avoiding manipulation of the ascending aorta. Although off-pump CABG is associated with reduced risk of stroke, there are no convincing differences in POCD between off-pump and on-pump CABG. Recently, the focus of postoperative neurological research has shifted from managing cardiopulmonary bypass to patient-related factors. Identifying changes in brains of aged individuals undergoing cardiac surgery may improve strategies for preventing cerebral dysfunction. Advanced age is associated with more undiagnosed cerebrovascular disease and is a major risk factor for stroke and POCD following cardiac surgery. Preoperative cerebrovascular evaluation and adaptation of surgical strategies will provide preventative approaches for cerebral dysfunction after CABG. This review focuses on recent findings of the relationship between perioperative stress and underlying fragility of the brain in cardiac surgical patients.     

Delirium after coronary artery bypass surgery.

The incidence of postoperative delirium following coronary artery bypass surgery was 28%. This rate is comparable to that after open-heart surgery. However, of those variables which were previously found to correlate with delirium in the open-heart group, only severity of postoperative illness in the recovery room significantly correlated with delirium in patients having bypass. The relationship between personality type and delirium, previously found to be signficant, was suggestively associated in these patients. A history of myocardial infarction prior to surgery was significantly associated with delirium.     

Autoimmune myasthenia gravis after coronary artery bypass surgery

We report a rare case of spontaneous dissection of an anomalous systemic artery supplying a normal basal segment of the right lung during pregnancy, leading to recurrent hemoptysis. This article aims to discuss the clinical presentation, diagnostic curiosity, management using a minimally invasive technique (video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy), and finally the histopathologic findings.     

Cerebral vein thrombosis after coronary artery bypass surgery

A case of cerebral vein thrombosis after cardiac artery bypass grafting is presented in a patient with coronary artery disease and prolonged angina. Postoperatively he failed the weaning trials because of brain dysfunction characterized by confusion, agitation and hyperpnea. He was initially considered to represent a typical case of post cardiac surgery brain underperfusion, but as he later developed persistent signs of endocranial hypertension, imaging of the brain vessels was carried out revealing obstruction of the left transverse and the frontal half of the oblique sinus. The patient was treated with anticoagulation and cerebrospinal fluid drainage through a lumbo-peritoneal shunt. He was discharged from the ICU in good condition after 102 days of hospitalization. As magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is generally recommended in cases with post cardiac surgery brain dysfunction with normal computed tomography scan, adding magnetic resonance phlebography to the examination protocol seems rational.     

Breast reduction surgery after coronary artery bypass grafting

Breast reduction surgery is a frequently performed procedure. Older patients presenting for this surgery may have previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting with harvesting of one or both internal mammary arteries. This may compromise the blood supply to the breast. Limiting medial dissection during breast reduction surgery in these women is prudent to prevent breast necrosis. A case illustrating this is described.     

非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术后的阿司匹林抵抗

目的 通过检测非体外循环冠状动脉旁路移植术(OPCAB)后患者血小板聚集率以及尿11-脱氢-血栓烷B2(11-DH-TXB2)指标,动态观察术后阿司匹林抵抗(AR)的发生情况,探索术后AR的危险因素。方法 冠心病患者290例,首次行OPCAB患者145例(手术组),接受内科药物治疗患者145例(非手术组)。手术组患者于术前及术后服用阿司匹林后第1、4、10天及6个月,检测血小板聚集率以及尿11-DH-TXB2。非手术组患者于服药前及服药后第1、4、10天检测上述指标。同时记录患者各项临床资料。结果 手术组患者服用阿司匹林后第1天的AR发生46例(32％)(抵抗组),其余为非抵抗组。用药后第4天和第10天AR患者下降至19例(13％)和5例(3％)。半年随访中未发现有AR患者存在。非手术组患者,服药后第1天,血小板聚集率均下降至20％以下,平均(8.8±6.8)％,未见AR现象出现。手术组患者术后血小板计数显著高于术前(P＜0.05)。Logistic回归分析发现,OPCAB患者中,体重大于75 kg(OR =0.38,95％CI:0.18～0.79)和术后引流量超过500 ml(OR=3.12,95％CI:1.29～7.53)为术后出现AR的危险因素。结论 OPCAB术后早期,阿司匹林的抗血小板作用受到不同程度抑制,部分患者出现AR现象,予以更为积极有效的抗血小板治疗有重要临床意义。     

Vasoplegic syndrome after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The vasoplegic syndrome (VS) has been implicated in life-threatening complications after open heart surgery, where the whole-body inflammatory reaction is attributed to the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been recently achieving growing enthusiasm mainly due avoiding the side effects of CPB. However herein the occurrence of VS in OPCAB is reported. METHODS: The vasoplegic syndrome usual findings occurring in the early postoperative period include severe hypotension, tachycardia, normal or elevated cardiac output and low systemic vascular resistance. Four patients underwent to OPCAB presented all the signs of VS intraoperatively or within the first 6 postoperative h. RESULTS: The patients needed aggressive vasoactive drug support for hemodynamic stabilization and all of them developed complications. These patients also had tendency to require administration of blood and blood derivatives due to diffuse and oozing type bleeding. Mean intensive care unit stay of surviving patients was 70 h and mean period of postoperative hospitalization was 9 days. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha blood levels in one patient were elevated postoperatively though no signs of infection were observed. One patient died. CONCLUSIONS: Although vasoplegic syndrome can complicate OPCAB surgery, the rationale for avoiding CPB remains valid considering the benefits provided by OPCAB.     

Massive pulmonary embolism after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

An 88-year-old woman developed an acute massive pulmonary embolism after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. She experienced dyspnea while walking on the sixth day after operation. Her chest radiograph showed pleural effusion. Initially, she was treated for heart failure due to bypass graft occlusion. A repeat echocardiogram revealed enlargement of the right ventricle. Multislice computed tomography showed a massive embolus in the pulmonary artery. Surgical embolectomy was performed, and her postoperative course was easy. Recently, the incidence of pulmonary embolism in Japanese people has been rising. In addition, widespread implementation of off-pump coronary artery bypass compromises the protective effect against pulmonary embolus after cardiac surgery. Although the incidence of pulmonary embolism after coronary artery bypass surgery is still low in Japan in comparison to that in Western countries, prophylaxis against pulmonary embolism after off-pump coronary artery surgery is becoming more important.     

冠状动脉旁路移植术后患者谵妄独立预测因子的现况分析

目的找出能引起谵妄的独立危险因素,为建立一套适合我国国情的冠状动脉旁路移植术后患者谵妄风险预测模型提供依据。方法通过文献检索,收集现有的冠状动脉旁路移植术后谵妄风险预测模型中纳入的独立预测因子并进行分析。结果收集18个模型,共44个独立预测因子。年龄、简易精神状态评分是引起冠状动脉旁路移植术后谵妄发生的前2位独立预测因子,分别累计出现6次和4次。第3位的独立预测因子有6个,分别为血浆皮质醇浓度、手术时间、欧洲心血管手术危险因素评分、房颤、体外循环时间、糖尿病,分别累计出现3次。结论围术期冠状动脉旁路移植术谵妄预测因子众多,谵妄的临床表现复杂,如何在现有众多预测因子中筛查出特异性强、敏感度高的独立预测因子,是建立冠状动脉旁路移植术后谵妄风险预测理想模型的关键。