Cognitive Dysfunction Following Cardiac Surgery

Summary

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is the most common complication after cardiac surgery. This prospective study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of development of POCD following cardiac surgery taking into account surgical technique (with use or no use of extracorporeal circulation). The investigators focused on the role of inflammatory and stress response to surgical procedure as potential factors involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction. Systematic inflammatory response in patients undergoing on-pump or off-pump surgery was analyzed by measuring serum levels of C reactive protein (CRP) and occurrence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Stress response to surgery was evaluated following cortisol levels and its daily variations. The degree of cognitive dysfunction was assessed based on serum levels of S100β. The effect of dexamethasone on the levels of stress and inflammatory response biomarkers, serum levels of S100β, as well as on the development of POCD was compared with control group that received normal saline.

Timeline

Start

2015-03

Primary completion

2016-01

Completion

2016-12

Outcome

Met primary endpoint

paper the dexamethasone group showed statistically significant reductions in the incidence of POCD (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.89; P = 0.02) PMID 28985195 ↗

Publications

• Background Ottens TH, Dieleman JM, Sauer AM, Peelen LM, Nierich AP, de Groot WJ, Nathoe HM, Buijsrogge MP, Kalkman CJ, van Dijk D; DExamethasone for Cardiac Surgery (DECS) Study Group. Effects of dexamethasone on cognitive decline after cardiac surgery: a randomized clinical trial. Anesthesiology. 2014 Sep;121(3):492-500. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000336.
• Background Newman MF, Kirchner JL, Phillips-Bute B, Gaver V, Grocott H, Jones RH, Mark DB, Reves JG, Blumenthal JA; Neurological Outcome Research Group and the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Research Endeavors Investigators. Longitudinal assessment of neurocognitive function after coronary-artery bypass surgery. N Engl J Med. 2001 Feb 8;344(6):395-402. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200102083440601.
• Background Roach GW, Kanchuger M, Mangano CM, Newman M, Nussmeier N, Wolman R, Aggarwal A, Marschall K, Graham SH, Ley C. Adverse cerebral outcomes after coronary bypass surgery. Multicenter Study of Perioperative Ischemia Research Group and the Ischemia Research and Education Foundation Investigators. N Engl J Med. 1996 Dec 19;335(25):1857-63. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199612193352501.
• Background Hudetz JA, Gandhi SD, Iqbal Z, Patterson KM, Pagel PS. Elevated postoperative inflammatory biomarkers are associated with short- and medium-term cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery surgery. J Anesth. 2011 Feb;25(1):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00540-010-1042-y.
• Background Rasmussen LS, O'Brien JT, Silverstein JH, Johnson TW, Siersma VD, Canet J, Jolles J, Hanning CD, Kuipers HM, Abildstrom H, Papaioannou A, Raeder J, Yli-Hankala A, Sneyd JR, Munoz L, Moller JT; ISPOCD2 Investigators. Is peri-operative cortisol secretion related to post-operative cognitive dysfunction? Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2005 Oct;49(9):1225-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00791.x.
• Background Mu DL, Li LH, Wang DX, Li N, Shan GJ, Li J, Yu QJ, Shi CX. High postoperative serum cortisol level is associated with increased risk of cognitive dysfunction early after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a prospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2013 Oct 15;8(10):e77637. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077637. eCollection 2013.
• Background Phillips-Bute B, Mathew JP, Blumenthal JA, Grocott HP, Laskowitz DT, Jones RH, Mark DB, Newman MF. Association of neurocognitive function and quality of life 1 year after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Psychosom Med. 2006 May-Jun;68(3):369-75. doi: 10.1097/01.psy.0000221272.77984.e2.
• Background Jensen BO, Hughes P, Rasmussen LS, Pedersen PU, Steinbruchel DA. Cognitive outcomes in elderly high-risk patients after off-pump versus conventional coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial. Circulation. 2006 Jun 20;113(24):2790-5. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.587931. Epub 2006 Jun 12.
• Background Parolari A, Camera M, Alamanni F, Naliato M, Polvani GL, Agrifoglio M, Brambilla M, Biancardi C, Mussoni L, Biglioli P, Tremoli E. Systemic inflammation after on-pump and off-pump coronary bypass surgery: a one-month follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 Sep;84(3):823-8. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.04.048.
• Background Canet J, Raeder J, Rasmussen LS, Enlund M, Kuipers HM, Hanning CD, Jolles J, Korttila K, Siersma VD, Dodds C, Abildstrom H, Sneyd JR, Vila P, Johnson T, Munoz Corsini L, Silverstein JH, Nielsen IK, Moller JT; ISPOCD2 investigators. Cognitive dysfunction after minor surgery in the elderly. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2003 Nov;47(10):1204-10. doi: 10.1046/j.1399-6576.2003.00238.x.
• Background Ernest CS, Worcester MU, Tatoulis J, Elliott PC, Murphy BM, Higgins RO, Le Grande MR, Goble AJ. Neurocognitive outcomes in off-pump versus on-pump bypass surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006 Jun;81(6):2105-14. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.01.008.
• Glumac S, Kardum G, Sodic L, Bulat C, Covic I, Carev M, Karanovic N. Longitudinal assessment of preoperative dexamethasone administration on cognitive function after cardiac surgery: a 4-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Anesthesiol. 2021 Apr 23;21(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s12871-021-01348-z.
• Glumac S, Kardum G, Sodic L, Supe-Domic D, Karanovic N. Effects of dexamethasone on early cognitive decline after cardiac surgery: A randomised controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2017 Nov;34(11):776-784. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000000647.

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