Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery
Published on: November 28, 2018
Evaluation of VEP parameters in patients before and after cardiopulmonary by-pass surgery
Alper Güneş1, Şerife Gülhan Konuk2, Helin Deniz Demir2
1School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey. alpergunes@gmail.com.
Insights
Coronary bypass surgery can affect visual pathways, as indicated by changes in pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) latency. This study highlights potential neurophysiological impacts even after uncomplicated procedures, especially in patients with systemic illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Coronary bypass surgery is a known risk factor for ischemic optic neuropathy.
- Understanding the neurophysiological impact of cardiac surgery on vision is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) before and after coronary bypass surgery.
- To assess the correlation between PVEP alterations and patient factors.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-one patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were evaluated.
- Ophthalmological examination and PVEP assessment were performed pre- and post-operatively.
- Surgical details, hematological parameters, and systemic illnesses were recorded.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in VEP P100 latency was observed post-surgery (p=0.014).
- This latency change was more pronounced in patients with systemic illnesses (p=0.023).
- Age showed a positive correlation with VEP P100 latency (r=0.402, p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Coronary bypass surgery can lead to neurophysiological changes affecting visual pathways.
- Factors like hypothermia, anemia, and diabetes may influence these changes.
- Even in non-complicated surgeries, monitoring visual function is important.
Purpose:
Coronary bypass surgery is emphasized in aetiology of ischemic optic neuropathy. Our aim in this study was to investigate the pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) in patients before and after coronary bypass surgery.
Methods:
Thirty-one patients were included in the study. After a full ophthalmological evaluation, PVEP was assesed in the pre and postoperative periods. Operative times, hematological parameters, blood pressures, number of transfusions, body temperatures, anaesthetic drugs and systemic illnesses were recorded for each patient.
Results:
The mean age of the patients were 59 ± 10.4 years. There was 22 men and 9 women in the study. Only 3 of them needed transfusion during the surgery. The mean duration of the surgery was 3.2 ± 0.7 h. None of the patients had a history of visual disturbance or postoperative ischemic optic neuropathy. The mean VEP P100 amplitude was not statistically significantly different but the mean VEP P100 latency showed statistically significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative periods. (p = 0.014) This significance was more appereant in patients with systemic illnesses. (p = 0.023) There was a positive correlation between the age and VEP P100 latency (r = 0.402, p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Although surgical techniques and equipments are developing each day in the field of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, the contributing factors such as hypothermia, anemia and diabetes still seem to affect neurophysiological functions even after a noncomplicated surgery.
