Complications involving the blood vessels leading to the brain—most often resulting in stroke—are a major source of illness and death following heart surgery, according to background information in the article. Factors causing postoperative stroke may include carotid artery stenosis (narrowing of the artery in the neck supplying blood to the brain), low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, atherosclerosis or plaque buildup in the aorta (the body's largest artery) and a temporarily increased tendency for blood to clot.

"The presence of multiple co-existing causes makes studying the mechanism of stroke challenging. Significant carotid stenosis has been recognized as a positive predictor of postoperative stroke in patients receiving cardiac surgical procedures. However, studies directly addressing the role of severe carotid stenosis are lacking," the authors write. "Despite this lack of evidence, combined carotid and cardiac surgical procedures are performed frequently in an effort to reduce the incidence of postoperative stroke."

Yuebing Li, M.D., Ph.D., John E. Castaldo, M.D., and colleagues at Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Penn., studied 4,335 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, aortic valve replacement or both between 2001 and 2006. Of those, 3,942 (90.9 percent) underwent ultrasonography to evaluate the carotid artery before their procedure.

A total of 76 patients (1.8 percent) had a clinically definitive stroke following surgery. Stroke was more common in individuals with carotid stenosis than in individuals without (7.5 percent vs. 1.8 percent); however, most strokes (76.3 percent) occurred in patients without significant carotid stenosis, and 60 percent of strokes were not confined to a single carotid artery. "According to clinical data, in 94.7 percent of patients, stroke occurred without direct correlation to significant carotid stenosis," the authors write.

In a subgroup of 53 patients who had significant carotid stenosis (artery narrowed by 70 percent or more) before surgery and underwent combined cardiac and carotid procedures, eight patients had postoperative strokes (15.1 percent). Among 51 patients who had a similar level of carotid stenosis but did not undergo a combined procedure, zero had a postoperative stroke.

"Multiple causes other than carotid stenosis could account for postoperative stroke in patients undergoing cardiac procedures," the authors write. "For example, coexistence of aortic atherosclerosis has been demonstrated to be a significant determinant of postoperative stroke. In some studies, clamping and manipulation of the aorta or heart could account for more than 60 percent of emboli [clots or masses that block blood vessels]." In addition, particles released from the cardiopulmonary bypass pump used during surgery could contribute to stroke, as could postoperative heart rhythm disorders.

"We confirmed a higher incidence of stroke in the subgroup of patients with significant carotid stenosis," the authors conclude. "However, most strokes have no direct causal relationship with the diseased carotid artery. Combined carotid and cardiac procedures result in a significantly higher incidence of post-operative stroke and should be avoided. Pre-operative studies such as echocardiography or computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and aorta could identify disease-free areas for manipulation and clamping to prevent postoperative strokes."

Editorial: Research on Heart Surgery Complications Should be Put Into Action

"The report in this issue of the Archives by Li et al that describes the results of more than 4,000 coronary artery bypass graft procedures at one hospital provides an opportunity to review what is known about the neurological complications of elective coronary artery surgery and, more important, to editorialize about how the results should be translated into action," writes Louis R. Caplan, M.D., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, in an accompanying editorial.

"I suggest that patients and pre-operative information should be reviewed before surgery by a team approach that includes a cardiologist who will observe the patients throughout their hospitalization and the cardiac surgeon who will perform the operation. This should be done at a time when further studies can be scheduled and reviewed before surgery."

"I believe that carrying out these recommendations will save brain tissue and lives by reducing the frequency and severity of adverse neurological outcomes and may even save some money," Dr. Caplan concludes.

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

• Heart Disease
• Stroke Prevention
• Today's Healthcare
• Wounds and Healing
• Elder Care
• Diseases and Conditions

• Stroke
• Heart valve
• Coronary heart disease
• Cardiac arrest
• Blood pressure
• Artery