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Cerebral embolism in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Ikuo Fukuda1, Hiroko Nakata, Hiroaki Sakamoto

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Japan. ikuofuku@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp

Insights

Coronary artery bypass grafting may lead to stroke due to atheroembolism. Surgeons must consider this risk, especially in patients with prior cerebral infarction, to prevent atheroembolic stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Surgery

Background:

  • A 64-year-old female patient with a history of cerebral infarction due to chronic middle cerebral artery occlusion presented with acute myocardial infarction.
  • The patient underwent double, off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting for her cardiac condition.

Observation:

  • Despite successful coronary artery bypass grafting, the patient experienced a stroke.
  • The stroke was attributed to atheroembolism originating from the ascending aorta.

Findings:

  • Coronary artery bypass grafting, even when performed off-pump, did not prevent stroke in this patient.
  • Atheroembolism from the ascending aorta was identified as the cause of the postoperative stroke.

Implications:

  • The risk of atheroembolism and subsequent stroke should be a critical consideration during the preoperative planning of coronary artery bypass grafting.
  • Enhanced vigilance and potential preventative strategies are warranted for patients with pre-existing cerebrovascular disease undergoing aortic procedures.

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