Neurological problems after heart surgery are common and include confusion, memory loss, and difficulty thinking clearly. These issues may appear hours or days after surgery and can negatively affect recovery.
During heart surgery, blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain may decrease, causing changes in blood pressure and cerebral oxygenation. Previous studies suggest that prolonged drops in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or cerebral oxygenation (rSO₂) are linked to worse postoperative outcomes. Continuous monitoring of blood pressure and cerebral oxygenation is standard in cardiac surgery.
This study aims to evaluate the duration and severity of intraoperative drops in MAP and cerebral oxygenation. These measures may provide a more accurate assessment of neurological risk than isolated measurements.
The primary objective is to determine whether decreases in MAP and cerebral oxygenation, as well as their duration and intensity during surgery, are associated with postoperative neurological complications.
This is a prospective, observational study in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). CPB diverts blood through a machine that performs the work of the heart and lungs while the heart is operated on. All patients will receive standard monitoring, including continuous MAP and cerebral oxygenation measurements. No additional interventions will be performed.
Neurological status will be assessed using validated clinical scales before and after surgery. Other outcomes include kidney function, ICU and hospital stay length, postoperative complications, and in-hospital mortality.
Validating these measures as a predictive tool could enable early identification of patients at higher risk of neurological injury and allow more individualized intraoperative management to reduce morbidity, hospital stay, and healthcare costs.
