Cognition after coronary artery surgery is not related to postoperative jugular bulb oxyhemoglobin desaturation

During the early postoperative period after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, many patients experience jugular bulb oxyhemoglobin desatu ration (Sjo(2) < 50%). We sought to determine whether Sjo(2) during cardiop ulmonary bypass and the early postoperative period influenced long-term cog nitive performance after CABG surgery. One hundred two patients completed a battery of cognitive tests the day before and 3 mo after CABG surgery. A G eneral Cognitive Score was generated from these tests as an overall measure of cognitive function. Intraoperatively, Sjo(2) was determined by intermit tent blood sampling, and postoperatively, the area under the curve of Sjo(2 ) < 50% and time was calculated from continuous reflectance oximetry. No si gnificant correlations between cognitive performance and either intra- or p ostoperative Sjo(2) were found. Preoperative cognitive performance was the main determinant of cognition at 3 mo (r(2) = 0.83, P ( 0.001), and palpabl e atheroma of the ascending aorta made a small, but significant, contributi on to a decline in cognition (r(2) = 0.018, P = 0.001).