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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:514-522
© 1996 Mosby, Inc.
CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS, |
Received for publication Sept. 29, 1995 Revisions requested Dec. 19, 1995; revisions received Jan. 22, 1996 Accepted for publication Jan 25, 1996. Address for reprints: Christina T. Mora, MD, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University Hospital, Stanford, CA 94305-5115.
Abstract
Several studies suggest that normothermic ("warm") bypass techniques may improve myocardial outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac operations. Normothermic temperatures during cardiopulmonary bypass may, however, decrease the brain's tolerance to the ischemic insults that accompany all cardiac procedures. To assess the effect of bypass temperature management strategy on central nervous system outcomes in patients undergoing coronary revascularization, 138 patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) hypothermia (n = 70), patients cooled to a temperature less than 28º C during cardiopulmonary bypass, or (2) normothermia (n = 68), patients actively warmed to a temperature of at least 35º C. Patients underwent detailed neurologic examination before the operation, on postoperative days 1 to 3 and 7 to 10, and at approximately 1 month after operation. In addition, a battery of five neuropsychologic tests was administered before operation, on postoperative days 7 to 10, and at the 4- to 6-week follow-up visit. Patients in the normothermic treatment group were older (65 ± 10 vs 61 ± 11 years in the hypothermic group), had statistically less likelihood of preexisting cerebrovascular disease, and had higher bypass blood glucose values (276 ± 100 mg/% vs. 152 ± 66 mg/% in the hypothermic group). All other patient characteristics and intraoperative variables were similar in the two treatment groups. Seven of 68 patients in the normothermic group were found to have a central neurologic deficit, compared with none of the patients cooled to 28º C (p = 0.006). Performance on at least one neuropsychologic test deteriorated in the immediate postoperative period in more than one half of all patients in both treatment groups but returned to preoperative levels approximately 1 month after the operation in most (85%). This pattern was not related to bypass temperature management strategy. We conclude that active warming during cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain systemic temperatures
35º C increases the risk of perioperative neurologic deficit in patients undergoing elective coronary revascularization. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1996;112:514-22)
In the early 1950s, Bigelow, Lindsay, and Greenwood
1 demonstrated that metabolic rate was linked to temperature and postulated that hypothermia could facilitate cardiac operations. Hypothermia has since become the mainstay of organ protectionparticularly for the heart and brainduring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
2 Studies in the early 1990s, however, suggested that normothermic cardioplegia might enhance myocardial protection during cardiac operations, and "warm" techniques have since been widely adopted.
3-10
To date, several studies have assessed the effect of normothermic cardioplegia and CPB on myocardial and neurologic outcomes in patients undergoing coronary revascularization.
6,8,10,11 Most investigators agree that normothermic cardioplegia is an acceptable alternative myocardial protection strategy, but they differ with respect to findings of neurologic outcomes associated with normothermic techniques. Martin and associates
8 demonstrated a substantially increased risk of neurologic dysfunction in patients maintained at normothermic temperatures during CPB, whereas the Warm Heart Investigators (WHI)
10 and McLean and coworkers
11 reported no increased risk of adverse neurologic
10,11 or neuropsychologic
11 outcomes.
Because even small fluctuations in brain temperature substantially affect the response to cerebral hypoxia, it is important to discriminate among various CPB temperature management strategies when considering the effect of normothermic versus hypothermic techniques on various outcomes. Several animal studies suggest that even small increases in cerebral temperature (1º to 2º C) exacerbate ischemic neuronal injury.
12-19 Cerebral temperatures of 38º to 39º C are associated with an increase in excitotoxic neurotransmitter release during cerebral hypoxia and with a delay in equilibration of intracellular high-energy phosphate metabolism.
17,19 In contrast, mild hypothermia (temperature reduction of 2º to 4º C) has been shown to ameliorate cerebral ischemic damage.
12-14 Varying CPB techniques that include seemingly minor differences in target temperatures may thus result in profoundly different neurologic outcomes and quality of life after cardiac operations.
This study was designed to determine whether patients undergoing coronary revascularization who are actively warmed during extracorporeal circulation to maintain systemic temperatures between 35º to 37º C have a higher incidence of perioperative central nervous system sequelae than those who are treated with hypothermic perfusion. Central nervous system morbidity was determined by both neurologic and neuropsychologic outcomes.
Patients and methods
Design
Of 1001 patients randomly assigned to undergo either hypothermic or normothermic cardiac operations, a subset of 138 patients scheduled for coronary revascularization procedures was randomly assigned to receive either intermittent cold oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution during CPB with systemic hypothermia (
28º C) (n = 70) or continuous normothermic blood retrograde cardioplegic solution during normothermic (
35º C) CPB (n = 68). Patients scheduled for concomitant procedures (vascular surgery, valvular procedures, aneurysmectomy, repair of atrial or septal defects, or placement of internal defibrillators) or admitted to the operating room directly from the cardiac catheterization laboratory were excluded. The study protocol was approved by the Emory University Human Investigations Committee, and informed consent was obtained from all participating patients. Treatments were randomly assigned before operation by means of computer-generated random-numbers. Investigators performing the preoperative and postoperative assessments and the statistical analyses after completion of study were unaware of treatment group assignment. Only the pharmacist responsible for preparing the cardioplegic solutions (who opened a sealed envelope to ascertain study group assignment) and treating clinicians in the operating room and intensive care unit were aware of group assignment.
Anesthesia techniques
Patients were medicated before the procedure with intramuscular morphine sulfate (0.07 to 0.15 mg/kg) and either intramuscular midazolam hydrochloride (0.02 to 0.05 mg/kg) or oral diazepam (0.10 to 0.15 mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced with either intravenous fentanyl citrate (10 to 25 µg/kg) or intravenous sufentanil citrate (2 to 5 µg/kg) and supplemental intravenous doses of midazolam (0.05 to 0.10 mg/kg). Muscle relaxation was established and maintained with intermittent intravenous doses of pancuronium or vecuronium (0.1 to 0.4 mg/kg) throughout the operative period. During CPB, anesthesia was maintained with supplemental doses of fentanyl, sufentanil, or isoflurane (0.25% to 1.0%), or with a propofol infusion (50 to 150 µg · kg-1 · min-1).
CPB and cardioplegic techniques
The myocardial protection techniques used in this study have been described in detail elsewhere.
8 Briefly, in the normothermic group, high-potassium (100 mmol/L potassium chloride) blood cardioplegic solution (4:1 blood to crystalloid solution, final potassium concentration 24 mEq/L, temperature G35º C) was infused in the aortic root at a rate of 100 to 350 ml/min and a pressure of 100 to 300 mm Hg to achieve diastolic arrest. Subsequently, low-potassium (30 mmol/L potassium chloride) solution (temperature G35º C) was administered continuously through a transatrial retrograde coronary sinus catheter (Gundry Retroplegia Cannula; DLP, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.). The remaining cardioplegic components (as described by Fremes) included 12 mmol/L trihydroxymethylaminomethane, 9 mmol/L magnesium sulfate, 250 mmol/L dextrose, and 20 mmol/L citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine. Coronary sinus pressures were maintained at approximately 40 mm Hg, coronary sinus flow rates ranged from 40 to 250 ml/min, and a negative-pressure vent was placed in the aortic root to permit return of cardioplegic solution. If necessary, retrograde infusion was interrupted briefly (<10 minutes) to permit optimal visualization of distal coronary anastomoses. Most proximal anastomoses were performed during partial occlusion of the aorta. Systemic normothermia (bladder temperature G35º C) was maintained during CPB by means of a water-bath heater-cooler (Hematherm Sub-Zero, Cincinnati, Ohio), with bath temperature kept at a maximum of 40º C.
In the hypothermic group, myocardial protection was achieved with intermittent cold oxygenated crystalloid cardioplegic solution (temperature H8º C) and externally applied cold crystalloid ice-slush solution. The cardioplegic solution included 1000 ml Plasma-Lyte A (Baxter Healthcare Corp., Deerfield, Ill.), 25 mEq potassium chloride, 3 ml 50% dextrose, 20 mEq sodium bicarbonate, and 8.6 ml 10% calcium gluconate. Initial myocardial arrest was achieved by infusing 1000 ml cardioplegic solution into the root of the crossclamped aorta at 150 to 450 ml/min. Cardioplegic solution was intermittently administered through the coronary sinus aortic root, saphenous vein grafts, or both to maintain myocardial arrest and was reinfused every 15 to 20 minutes or if there was any evidence of myocardial activity. Distal anastomoses were placed during aortic occlusion and myocardial arrest; most proximal anastomoses were performed during partial occlusion of the aorta. Systemic hypothermia (bladder temperature H28º C) was maintained throughout CPB with the use of a water-bath heater-cooler. Bladder temperature in both groups was monitored by means of a Foley catheter with temperature probe (Bard Urotrack Plus Foley; Bard Urological, Covington, Ga.).
CPB techniques in both treatment groups included roller pumps (Cinco Heart-Lung Machines, Wakefield, Mass.), membrane oxygenators (Cobe Excel Adult Membrane Lung; Cobe Cardiovascular, Inc., Arvada, Colo.), arterial line filters (30 µm), and single aortic and atrial cannulation methods. Plasma-Lyte A was circulated through a 5 mm prebypass filter to prime the pump circuit. Nonpulsatile pump flows were maintained at 2.2 to 2.5 L · min-1 · m-2 when the temperature was at least 32º C and as low as 1.8 L · min-1 · m-2 when the temperature was less than 32º C. Mean arterial pressure was maintained between 40 and 70 mm Hg; if necessary, vasoconstrictive drugs (phenylephrine, norepinephrine) were used to maintain perfusion pressure. Hypertension (mean arterial pressure >80 mm Hg) during CPB was treated by administration of anesthetic drugs (see Anesthesia Techniques) or sodium nitroprusside. Moderate hemodilution (hematocrit 18% to 25%) and alpha-stat acid-base management techniques were used. Oxygen inflow was adjusted to maintain the oxygen tension between 250 to 350 mm Hg and the systemic venous oxygen saturation at 70% or more during CPB. Anticoagulation was achieved with an initial 4.0 mg/kg dose of heparin; additional doses were administered to maintain the activated clotting time higher than 300 seconds (Hemochron 80; International Technidyne Corporation, Edison, N.J.) or heparin levels higher than 3 (Hemostasis Management System; Medtronic Cardiopulmonary, Anaheim, Calif.).
The study protocol did not mandate any aspect of postoperative care. Decisions regarding patient care in the intensive care unit were made by the attending surgeon (who was aware of treatment group) and the intensive care unit physicians and other staff members (who were unaware of treatment assignment).
Neurologic and neuropsychologic assessments
Neurologic examinations were performed by a single investigator (M. B. H.) who was unaware of treatment group assignment during the four testing periods: preoperative, within 72 hours before the operation; postoperative, in-hospital days 1 to 3 and 7 to 10; and long-term, 4 to 6 weeks. Neurologic assessment included an evaluation of mental status, motor and sensory function of cranial nerves II through XII and of the upper and lower extremities, hand coordination, deep tendon reflexes, and primitive reflexes. Any new perioperative central neurologic deficits were diagnosed by fulfillment of any of the following criteria: (1) altered level of consciousness or confusion (not attributable to pharmacologic or metabolic causes), (2) impaired speech, (3) visual disturbances, or (4) new or worsened motor or sensory deficits of the face or upper and lower extremities (not attributable to peripheral lesions). The preoperative neurologic evaluation served as the baseline for this determination.
Neuropsychologic testing was conducted for 109 patients who consented to undergo cognitive function testing in addition to neurologic evaluation. Preoperative neuropsychologic testing was performed within 72 hours before the operation, postoperative testing was performed in the hospital at 7 to 10 days after the operation, and long-term testing was performed at 4 to 6 weeks. The following battery of five tests was used: (1) Mental control test, (2) associate learning test (both tests 1 and 2 are subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale [WMS]),
20 (3) digit span test, (4) digit symbol test (both tests 3 and 4 are subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Revised [WAIS-R]),
21 and (5) grooved pegboard test. These tests were selected because of their sensitivity to the neurologic deficits that occur in the cerebral domains most vulnerable to injury after cardiac operations: concentration and attention, auditory memory and new learning ability, immediate auditory memory span, psychomotor function, fine motor dexterity, and tracking. All neuropsychologic tests were administered and scored according to standard procedures by one of two investigators (M. B. H., P. A. B.) who remained unaware of treatment group assignment.
To further evaluate the effect of CPB temperature management strategy on perioperative neuropsychologic performance, the number of patients in each treatment group with either improvement or decrement in any neuropsychologic test score was noted. A postoperative change was considered significant if the difference in score for a given test exceeded the preoperative standard deviation for that test.
Statistical methods
All data were collected on standardized forms, entered into a computerized database, and analyzed with BMDP Software (Los Angeles, Calif.). Results are reported as means (± the standard deviation) or proportions. Continuous measures were compared with unpaired t tests, and categoric measures were compared by
2 statistical analyses or Fisher's Exact Test as appropriate. Repeated measures were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance. A p value lower than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results
The study protocol was completed for all 138 patients. Preoperative patient characteristics in the two treatment groups are shown in
Table I. The normothermic group had significantly higher mean age (p = 0.03) despite similar percentages of patients older than 60 years in the two treatment groups (p = 0.21), and the hypothermic group tended to have a higher prevalence of previous stroke (p = 0.10). Of the intraoperative variables (
Table II), only glucose concentration during CPB differed significantly between the treatment groups (p < 0.001); it was higher in normothermic patients despite similar rates of insulin administration during CPB in the two treatment groups. The retrograde infusion of cardioplegic solution was interrupted to facilitate the placement of the distal coronary anastomoses in fewer than 10% of the patients in the normothermic group.
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Neuropsychologic outcomes
One hundred nine patients participated in neuropsychologic evaluation. Results are provided in
Table III. There was a significant change in test performance on all the neuropsychologic tests with time (p < 0.001 for all five tests), but the change was not specific to treatment group. There was a trend toward a group effect in the digit span (p = 0.07) and mental control (p = 0.06) tests, however, with the hypothermic group tending to perform better on these two tests with time. Scores on the associate learning (WMS), mental control (WMS), digit symbol (WAIS-R), and grooved pegboard tests deteriorated similarly in the immediate postoperative period in the two treatment groups; however, there was a greater decrement in performance on the digit span test (WAIS-R) in the normothermic group (
Table III). At the 4- to 6-week follow-up, all group test scores had returned to preoperative values (associate learning [WMS] and mental control [WMS]) or significantly improved (digit span and symbol [WAIS-R], and grooved pegboard) in both treatment groups.
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The numbers of patients with improvement or decrement in neuropsychologic test scores did not differ between the treatment groups in either of the postoperative testing periods (
Table IV). In the immediate postoperative period, more than half of all patients had a significant deterioration in at least one neuropsychologic test score and few patients demonstrated any improvement in performance on any measure. In comparison with their preoperative test performance, at the 4- to 6-week follow-up assessment, 72% of patients achieved neuropsychologic test scores similar to their preoperative results, 13% showed significant improvement, and 15% had a significant deterioration in at least one neuropsychologic test score.
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These data support the hypothesis that warming of patients during CPB to maintain the systemic temperature at 35º C or more increases the risk of neurologic deficits after coronary revascularization procedures. In this 138-patient study, seven of 68 patients in the actively warmed group had evidence of a new central neurologic deficit, compared with none of 70 patients who underwent operation with hypothermic CPB. In the light of the overall prevalence of central neurologic deficits in this surgical population between 2.5% and 5%,
22,23 the 10% incidence of new neurologic dysfunction in the normothermic group is of substantial concern.
In contrast to neurologic outcome, CPB temperature management strategy did not substantially influence performance on postoperative neuropsychologic tests. In the immediate postoperative period, performance deteriorated on at least one neuropsychologic test in more than half of all patients in both treatment groups. During the 4- to 6-week follow-up assessment, performance returned to preoperative levels in most patients, but 15% continued to manifest deterioration on at least one neuropsychologic test.
During cardiac operations and CPB, the brain is subjected to an almost continuous shower of both macroemboli (>200 µm) and microemboli. Atherosclerotic plaques, blood thrombi, platelet aggregates, fat globules, inorganic debris from the CPB circuit, and air and anesthetic gases form both large and small emboli that may result in temporary cerebral ischemia or infarction. Cerebrovascular macroembolization, especially atheroembolism, is believed to be responsible for gross and focal neurologic deficits after cardiac operations
24,25postmortem review of brains from 129 patients who died after cardiac surgical procedures demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of stroke before death among patients with evidence of atheroemboli (51%) than among those without evidence of atheroemboli (18%).
25 The clinical effects of microembolization may go unnoticed, may be seen as a diffuse pattern of neurologic injury, or may contribute to the neuropsychologic dysfunction observed after CPB.
26,27 Specifically, the severity of postoperative neuropsychologic deficits appears to correlate well with the number of microemboli observed with ultrasonography.
26,27 The precise etiology of neuropsychologic dysfunction in cardiac surgical patients is unknown, however; cerebral inflammation, perioperative medications and a myriad of other factors may influence performance on neuropsychologic examinations.
Swain
2 characterized the use of hypothermia during CPB as "the current mainstay of cerebral protection," and substantial evidence demonstrates the cerebral protective effects of hypothermia during temporary focal or global cerebral ischemia.
12-14,18,28-31 Hypothermia reduces cellular metabolism, which limits energy substrate and oxygen consumption, thereby increasing cellular tolerance to diminished blood flow and oxygen delivery.
32 In addition, hypothermia ameliorates the ischemia-induced increase in excitotoxic neurotransmitters (most notably glutamate) that amplify ischemic damage after cell failure to produce high-energy triphosphates.
33 In a nonbypass animal model of temporary ischemia, Busto and colleagues
28 demonstrated that maintaining brain temperature at 30º to 33º C completely inhibited the release of glutamate and significantly attenuated the release of dopamine. Even small decrements in cerebral temperature thus confer protection. Finally, hypothermia also reduces the cellular acidosis that accompanies ischemia
13 and has a palliative effect on the development of edema, possibly by maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
34
The protective effects of hypothermia are less clear for the permanent lesions (such as aortic atheroma) that are probably responsible for much of the cerebral ischemia accompanying cardiac operations.
19,31,35 Ridenour and coworkers
31 reported that mild hypothermia (33º C) did not reduce the volume of cerebral infarction in rats with a permanent focal lesion, whereas Onesti and associates
35 demonstrated that deep hypothermia (24º C) effectively limited cerebral infarction in a similar model. Morikawa and colleagues
18 found that manipulations of brain temperature had a greater effect in rats subjected to reversible ischemic lesions but also found that even moderate hypothermia (30º C) tended to reduce cerebral infarct volume in rats with permanent lesions. On the basis of these animal data, our use of a hypothermic CPB technique (28º C) may have provided protection from both temporary and permanent ischemic insults.
Several studies suggest that manipulation of the aorta is associated with embolization of atheromatous material to the cerebral circulation.
24 In this study, both treatment groups had similar systemic temperatures (35º C to 37º C) at the time of maximum aortic manipulation (during the application of the crossclamp), suggesting that the absence of neurologic deficits in the hypothermic group might not be related to the temperature of the patient after crossclamp application. The institution of hypothermia after an ischemic insult, however, also may be protective.
36,37 Zhang and colleagues
37 demonstrated that perfusion with hypothermic blood (30º C) after a 2-hour normothermic ischemic insult reduced cerebral infarction volume in a rat model of temporary cerebral ischemia.
It is unclear why hypothermia did not limit the neuropsychologic dysfunction identified in the patients managed with CPB at 28º C. Although cerebral emboli resulting in vascular occlusion and ischemia are thought to be a possible cause of neuropsychologic deficits in patients undergoing cardiac operations, other mechanisms, such as changes in cerebral microcirculation and coagulation, may contribute to postoperative neuropsychologic dysfunction. For example, cerebral air emboli damage pial vessel endothelium, leading to the disruption of vasoreactivity and ultrastructural abnormalities.
38 Even in the absence of mechanical blockage of the microvasculature, air emboli can disrupt normal cerebral microcirculation. One could speculate that the changes induced by air microemboli may contribute to the neuropsychologic dysfunction observed after CPB. These microvascular processes may not be influenced by temperature in the same manner as ischemic phenomena initiated by the mechanical obstruction of the cerebral microcirculation. In summary, the processes responsible for gross neurologic deficits after cardiac operations probably differ from those causing neuropsychologic dysfunction and may be affected by temperature in a different manner.
Factors that may have contributed to our finding of increased risk of adverse neurologic outcome in our normothermically managed patients include age, criteria for inclusion and for risk, and a rigorously controlled study protocol. The risk of adverse neurologic outcomes increases with age,
39 and aspects of the different modes of delivery of cardioplegic solution may have increased the embolic load to the brain. Additionally, patients who were actively warmed during CPB were exposed to higher blood concentrations of glucose than patients cooled to 28º C, and several animal studies suggest that hyperglycemia exacerbates both global and focal neurologic ischemic injury.
40,41 That is, the anaerobic metabolism of glucose potentiates the excitotoxic cascade that causes neurologic injury.
42 Mild (32º to 33º C) and moderate hypothermia (30º C) limit both the neurologic and histologic manifestations of hyperglycemia in neuronal ischemia,
43,44 and studies in patients undergoing hypothermic CPB suggest that hyperglycemia during CPB does not worsen neurologic injury after cardiac operations.
45 Although McLean and coworkers
11 also noted significantly higher blood glucose concentrations in their "warmed" patients without increased risk of stroke, their failure to control for "drift" (the spontaneous loss of body heat during CPB) in the tested temperature range precludes their ability to find any reliable associations among hyperglycemia, normothermia, and outcome. Perhaps the increased prevalence of neurologic deficits found in our normothermic group was not the result of temperature management strategy but rather of the hyperglycemic milieu present during a period (CPB) when a cerebral ischemic insult was likely. Alternatively, normothermic, hyperglycemic conditions during CPB may have had an additive or synergistic adverse effect on neurologic outcome in the normothermic treatment group.
Because we actively warmed our normothermic patients to maintain a bladder temperature between 35º and 37º C, it is possible that many if not all had cerebral temperatures that were not normothermic but were in fact hyperthermic (>37º C). The CPB circuit water bath was maintained at 39º to 40º C, so the blood infused into the aortic root may have had a temperature greater than 37º C. Several animal studies demonstrate that even small (2º C) increases in brain temperature can exacerbate neuronal injury. Dietrich and associates
16 demonstrated that the histopathologic consequences of temporary global forebrain ischemia were significantly worse in rats maintained at 39º C than in those maintained at 37º C; they subsequently found that mild intraischemic hyperthermia (39º C) exacerbated pathologic changes in blood-brain barrier permeability.
34 Similarly, Mitani and Kataoka
17 found that increasing cerebral temperatures in gerbils from 37º C to 39º C during temporary global ischemia significantly increased both postischemic release of glutamate and mortality. Our study results thus may not suggest that hypothermia per se protects against ischemic cerebral injury during CPB as much that hyperthermia potentiates ischemic pathologic processes in the brain during cardiac operations.
Comparison with other studies
Several studies have reported on neurologic outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac procedures with varying types of normothermic temperature management strategies during CPB.
6,8,10,11 Our results are consistent with those obtained by Martin and associates
8 in their study of hypothermic versus normothermic technique in a group of 1001 patients, of which our 138 patients form a specific subset. Although preoperative and postoperative neurologic examinations were not performed in the series of Martin and associates
8 (limiting the ability to detect postoperative adverse neurologic events), the normothermic technique increased the risk for adverse neurologic outcomes (4.5% versus 1.4% in the hypothermic group). Importantly, only three of the seven adverse neurologic events identified in this study's population were discovered by the chart review methods used by Martin and associates.
8 Additionally, all patients found by Martin and associates
8 to have a postoperative adverse neurologic event were similarly identified in this study. Sotaniemi, Juolasmaa, and Hokkanen
46 reported that study methods that depend on retrospective chart review to identify clinical events grossly underestimate the prevalence of postoperative adverse neurologic events.
Our results do not reflect those reported by Singh and colleagues,
6 the WHI,
10 or McLean and coworkers.
11 Of these three groups of investigators, only Singh and colleagues
6 consistently warmed patients during CPB, maintaining the temperature of the bladder at 36º C and that of the perfusate at 37º C. Myocardial protection was provided by hypothermic cardioplegic solution and iced saline solution slush in the pericardial sac. It is possible that this protection technique reduced the local temperature of the blood pumped through the aorta and to the cerebral circulation, thereby limiting the brain's exposure to normothermic blood temperatures. Their finding of surprisingly few strokes (1%) in a population undergoing open-chamber and closed-chamber cardiac procedures may also reflect a failure to perform preoperative neurologic assessments. Without a baseline assessment, the extent of neurologic dysfunction would be difficult to quantify.
The WHI
10 and McLean and coworkers
11 (studying a subgroup from the WHI study) both reported that normothermic CPB does not increase the risk of adverse neurologic events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The respective prevalences of stroke in the normothermic and hypothermic groups were 1.6% and 1.5% in the WHI trial
10 and 2.6% and 5.2% in the study of McLean and coworkers.
11 There are, however, several important differences between those studies and this one. Most important, neither the WHI
10 nor McLean and coworkers
11 were consistent in studying a single temperature management strategy. Some patients were actively warmed to 37º C, but others were allowed to "drift" to systemic temperatures of 33º to 36º C. Second, also unlike this study, patients with an increased risk of a perioperative adverse neurologic event (patients with a preoperative history of carotid stenosis or stroke) were not included in either previous study. Yet patients with symptomatic cerebrovascular disease have an increased risk of perioperative stroke.
47,48 Third, the mean ages of patients in the studies of the WHI
10 and McLean and coworkers
11 were substantially lower (about 58 years) than that of our patients (about 63 years), and advanced age has been reported to increase the risk of adverse neurologic outcome for patients undergoing coronary operations.
39 Fourth, in contrast to the practice of the WHI group,
10 in this study a partially occluding aortic clamp was placed in most patients to facilitate the placement of the proximal coronary artery vein grafts. This manipulation may have increased the embolic load to the brain. Perhaps patients in the hypothermic group tolerated this additional insult, whereas those in the normothermic group were unprotected by reduced cerebral temperatures. Finally, the WHI group
10 became aware of the finding of Martin and associates
8 of an association between normothermic CPB and adverse neurologic events in the midst of their study, and they immediately terminated their active warming protocol to avoid patient risk. Although these differences make it difficult to compare our results with those of these investigators, it may be reasonable to suggest that overall their patients were at less risk for a perioperative neurologic deficit because of less conducive preoperative demographic characteristics and a tendency toward lower cerebral temperatures during CPB.
Because the brain is vulnerable to ischemic injury during cardiac surgery and CPB, clinicians must carefully consider the factors that can limit or potentiate the pathophysiologic processes that result in cerebral damage. In this study, patients in the normothermic group may have been exposed to arterial blood with a temperature in excess of 37º C. This phenomenon could be expected to increase the risk of adverse neurologic outcome. Although normothermic myocardial protection techniques may be desirable in certain patient groups, the CPB technique should not expose the brain to an unnecessary temperature or heat load. This study demonstrates that patients undergoing coronary revascularization should not be actively warmed during CPB to maintain bladder temperatures between 35º and 37º C because that technique increases the risk of stroke in this group of patients. Several investigators are now studying the effect of "tepid" or "lukewarm" CPB temperature management on myocardial outcomes. Perhaps these and future studies will define the optimal temperature management strategy to protect both the heart and the brain during cardiac operations.
Acknowledgments
We thank Anthony Y. Stringer, PhD, and Patricia A. Bryant, BS, for their assistance in scoring and administering the neuropsychologic tests, Diane Beatty for typing the manuscript, and Winifred von Ehrenburg for her editorial assistance.
Footnotes
From the Divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology,a Cardiology,b and Cardiothoracic Surgery,c Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga., and the Department of Anaesthesia,d University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. ![]()
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H. Kaukuntla, A. Walker, D. Harrington, T. Jones, and R. S. Bonser Differential brain and body temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass--a randomised clinical study Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., September 1, 2004; 26(3): 571 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. Kaukuntla, D. Harrington, I. Bilkoo, T. Clutton-Brock, T. Jones, and R. S. Bonser Temperature monitoring during cardiopulmonary bypass--do we undercool or overheat the brain? Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., September 1, 2004; 26(3): 580 - 585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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S. Bar-Yosef, J. P. Mathew, M. F. Newman, K. P. Landolfo, H. P. Grocott, and The Neurological Outcome Research Group and C.A.R. Prevention of Cerebral Hyperthermia During Cardiac Surgery by Limiting On-Bypass Rewarming in Combination with Post-Bypass Body Surface Warming: A Feasibility Study Anesth. Analg., September 1, 2004; 99(3): 641 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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T. W. Willcox and R. van Uden Best Practice for Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the High-Risk Elderly Patient Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, December 1, 2002; 6(4): 293 - 300. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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Y. Sato, D. T. Laskowitz, E. R. Bennett, M. F. Newman, D. S. Warner, and H. P. Grocott Differential Cerebral Gene Expression During Cardiopulmonary Bypass in the Rat: Evidence for Apoptosis? Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2002; 94(6): 1389 - 1394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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J. M. Slater, T. A. Orszulak, K. J. Zehr, and D. J. Cook Use of the Cobra catheter for targeted temperature management during cardiopulmonary bypass in swine J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., May 1, 2002; 123(5): 936 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. A. Borger and V. Rao Temperature Management During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Effect of Rewarming Rate on Cognitive Dysfunction Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, March 1, 2002; 6(1): 17 - 20. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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D C Whitaker, J Stygall, and S P Newman Neuroprotection during cardiac surgery: strategies to reduce cognitive decline Perfusion, March 1, 2002; 17(2_suppl): 69 - 75. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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H. P. Grocott, G. B. Mackensen, A. M. Grigore, J. Mathew, J.G. Reves, B. Phillips-Bute, P. K. Smith, and M. F. Newman Postoperative Hyperthermia Is Associated With Cognitive Dysfunction After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Stroke, February 1, 2002; 33(2): 537 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. A. Jonas, J. W. Newburger, and D. C. Bellinger Reply J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., January 1, 2002; 123(1): 194 - 194. [Full Text] |
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H. J. Nathan, G. A. Wells, J. L. Munson, and D. Wozny Neuroprotective Effect of Mild Hypothermia in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Randomized Trial Circulation, September 18, 2001; 104 (2009): I-85 - I-91. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R Tosson, D Buchwald, K Klak, and A Laczkovics The impact of normothermia on the outcome of aortic valve surgery Perfusion, July 1, 2001; 16(4): 319 - 324. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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K. Yoshitani, M. Kawaguchi, N. Sugiyama, M. Sugiyama, S. Inoue, T. Sakamoto, K. Kitaguchi, and H. Furuya The Association of High Jugular Bulb Venous Oxygen Saturation with Cognitive Decline After Hypothermic Cardiopulmonary Bypass Anesth. Analg., June 1, 2001; 92(6): 1370 - 1376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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A. Parolari, F. Alamanni, M. Naliato, R. Spirito, V. Franze, G. Pompilio, M. Agrifoglio, and P. Biglioli Adult cardiac surgery outcomes: role of the pump type Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., November 1, 2000; 18(5): 575 - 582. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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D. van Dijk, A. M. A. Keizer, J. C. Diephuis, C. Durand, L. J. Vos, and R. Hijman Neurocognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass surgery: A systematic review J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., October 1, 2000; 120(4): 632 - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. F. Newman, T. O. Stanley, and H. P. Grocott Strategies to Protect the Brain During Cardiac Surgery Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, July 1, 2000; 4(2): 53 - 64. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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U. S. Boston, H. Sungurtekin, C. G.A. McGregor, J. A. Macoviak, and D. J. Cook Differential perfusion: a new technique for isolated brain cooling during cardiopulmonary bypass Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2000; 69(5): 1346 - 1350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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M. A. Chaney, M. P. Nikolov, B. P. Blakeman, and M. Bakhos Attempting to Maintain Normoglycemia During Cardiopulmonary Bypass with Insulin May Initiate Postoperative Hypoglycemia Anesth. Analg., November 1, 1999; 89(5): 1091 - 1091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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H. J. Nathan The potential benefits of perioperative hypothermia Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1999; 68(4): 1452 - 1453. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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Y. Kadoi, F. Kawahara, S. Saito, T. Morita, F. Kunimoto, F. Goto, and N. Fujita Effects of hypothermic and normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass on brain oxygenation Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1999; 68(1): 34 - 39. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. M. Engelman, A. B. Pleet, J. A. Rousou, J. E. Flack III, D. W. Deaton, P. S. Pekow, and C. A. Gregory Influence of cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion temperature on neurologic and hematologic function after coronary artery bypass grafting Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 1999; 67(6): 1547 - 1555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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D. J. Cook Changing Temperature Management for Cardiopulmonary Bypass Anesth. Analg., June 1, 1999; 88(6): 1254 - 1254. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. M. Mangano Optimal Temperature Management During Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Warm, Cold, or Tepid? Seminars in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, November 1, 1998; 2(4): 283 - 293. [Abstract] [PDF] |
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D. Buschbeck, F.-C. Riess, B. Dobritzsch, B. Dahme, and N. Bleese Short-term neuropsychologic differences after normothermic versus hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., August 1, 1998; 116(2): 350 - 354. [Full Text] [PDF] |
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C. T. Wass, D. G. Cable, H. V. Schaff, and W. L. Lanier Anesthetic Technique Influences Brain Temperature During Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Dogs Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 1998; 65(2): 454 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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E. J. Heyer, D. C. Adams, E. Delphin, D. J. McMahon, S. D. Steneck, M. C. Oz, R. E. Michler, and E. A. Rose CEREBRAL DYSFUNCTION AFTER CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING DONE WITH MILD OR MODERATE HYPOTHERMIA J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., August 1, 1997; 114(2): 270 - 277. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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G. Plourde, A. S. Leduc, J. E. Morin, B. DeVarennes, D. Latter, J. Symes, R. Robbins, N. Fosset, L. Couture, and A. Ptito TEMPERATURE DURING CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS FOR CORONARY ARTERY OPERATIONS DOES NOT INFLUENCE POSTOPERATIVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED TRIAL J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., July 1, 1997; 114(1): 123 - 128. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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G. W. Roach, M. Kanchuger, C. M. Mangano, M. Newman, N. Nussmeier, R. Wolman, A. Aggarwal, K. Marschall, S. H. Graham, C. Ley, et al. Adverse Cerebral Outcomes after Coronary Bypass Surgery N. Engl. J. Med., December 19, 1996; 335(25): 1857 - 1864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
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R. M. Engelman, A. B. Pleet, J. A. Rousou, J. E. Flack III, D. W. Deaton, C. A. Gregory, and P. S. Pekow WHAT IS THE BEST PERFUSION TEMPERATURE FOR CORONARY REVASCULARIZATION? J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., December 1, 1996; 112(6): 1622 - 1633. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
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