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Updated: May 21, 2026

Surgical Porcine Model of Chronic Myocardial Ischemia Treated by Exosome-laden Collagen Patch and Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Published on: September 15, 2023
[EEG changes in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting]
Insights
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery may cause ischemic neuronal injury, indicated by changes in electroencephalograms (EEG). These EEG alterations, particularly in the left frontal lobe, suggest potential cognitive decline risks post-CABG.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Context:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) patients exhibit pre-existing cognitive processing differences compared to healthy controls.
- On-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common surgical intervention for CHD.
Purpose:
- To investigate electroencephalogram (EEG) changes following on-pump CABG in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To identify potential neurological correlates of cognitive changes associated with CABG.
Summary:
- EEG studies before and after CABG in 28 male patients revealed significant alterations.
- Post-CABG, increased theta1 and theta2 rhythm power, especially in the left frontal lobe, was observed in all CHD patients.
- Patients with concomitant carotid artery (CA) stenosis showed more pronounced EEG changes, suggesting increased vulnerability.
Impact:
- The observed EEG changes suggest ischemic neuronal injury induced by on-pump CABG.
- The frontal cortex of the left hemisphere appears particularly vulnerable to these ischemic events.
- These findings highlight the potential for cognitive decline post-CABG, linked to cerebral blood flow deficits in specific brain regions.
Abstract:
We studied the changes of electroencephalograms (EEG) related to on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 28 right-handed male patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), 10 from which had accompanying moderated (30-50%) carotid artery (CA) stenoses. All EEG studies were performed 3-5 days before and 7-11 days after CABG. EEG data of healthy age-matched males (n=14) were examined. Before surgery, the CHD patients differed from the control group by less expressed theta2 and beta1 rhythm power asymmetry. The differences demonstrated worse conditions for cognitive processes in CHD patients. After CABG, the higher power of teta1 and 2 rhythms, predominantly in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere which was mostly expressed in patients with CA stenosis, was observed in all CHD patients. This effect can be considered as the appearance of ischemic neuronal injury caused by on-pump CABG. The localization of changes in the frontal cortex of the left hemisphere can be related to a high vulnerability of these regions. The deficit of cerebral blood flow in these regions will define a clinical picture of cognitive decline after CABG.

