Glutamate/aspartate supplementation during cardiopulmonary bypass: effect on postoperative neurocognitive function

In this randomized trial, we investigated the effect of glutamate/aspartate-containing cardioplegia on neurocognitive function in 70 patients undergoing first-time elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Half of the patients received glutamate/aspartate, and the other 35 patients served as controls and received crystalloid cardioplegia. Neurocognitive function after surgery was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination performed before surgery and again on postoperative day 3. Although patients in both groups scored slightly lower postoperatively (17 versus 18 of a total of 30 points), no significant group differences were found. Our results indicate that glutamate/aspartate supplementation had no impact on neurocognitive function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.