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Published on: June 23, 2022
[Neurological complications in cardiac surgery post-operative period]
M Rubio-Regidor1, J L Pérez-Vela, A Escribá-Bárcena
1Unidad de Postoperatorio de Cirugía Cardíaca, Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid. rubiomer@yahoo.es
Insights
Neurological complications after cardiac surgery are common due to multiple factors like atherosclerosis and inflammation. Understanding risk markers is key to developing strategies that reduce these severe outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Neurosurgery
Context:
- Neurological complications following cardiac surgery remain a significant concern.
- Variability in reported incidence is linked to diverse study populations and definitions of neurological dysfunction.
- These complications carry substantial personal, economic, and healthcare burdens.
Purpose:
- To provide an objective overview of the current literature on neurological complications after cardiac surgery.
- To highlight the multifactorial etiology, including aortic atherosclerosis, cerebral hypoperfusion, and inflammatory responses.
- To emphasize the importance of identifying risk markers and understanding pathogenesis.
Summary:
- Cardiac surgery is associated with a high incidence of neurological complications.
- The etiology is multifactorial, involving aortic atherosclerosis, cerebral hypoperfusion, and inflammatory phenomena.
- Knowledge of risk factors and pathogenesis is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
Impact:
- Minimizing the occurrence and development of neurological complications can reduce mortality and morbidity.
- Improved understanding can lead to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
- This review aims to inform strategies for mitigating the severe consequences of these complications.
Abstract:
The incidence of neurological complications after cardiac surgery continues to be elevated, although this is variable in the different studies published, fundamentally because of the different populations studied and the different definitions of neurological dysfunction. The etiology of these alterations is attributed to a multifactorial origin, aortic artherosclerosis, cerebral hypoperfusion and inflammatory phenomenon secondary to the technique. This review arises from the recognition of the personal, economic, and socio-health care repercussion entailed by these complications, with high rates of mortality and morbidity recorded, and it tries to give an objective view of the current literature on the subject. Having knowledge of the risk markers and understanding the pathogenesis is important to try to plan strategies that may minimize the appearance and development of these complications and contribute to the decrease of their serious consequences. The data and the experience obtained by our group are shown at the end of the review.
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