Neurologic injury in cardiac surgery - Aortic atherosclerosis emerges as the single most important risk factor

With older and sicker patients undergoing cardiac surgery, neurologic injur y has emerged as an increasingly important cause of rising costs, morbidity and mortality. Several studies investigating the relationship between athe rosclerotic aortic disease and subsequent adverse clinical outcomes have de monstrated that the single most important risk factor for neurologic injury following cardiac surgery is the presence of aortic atheromatous disease. The results of these studies suggest that atheroemboli are correlated with neurologic injury following cardiac surgery. Surgical techniques to avoid a nd prevent particulate debris during cardiac surgery may be a major step in preventing severe neurologic injury.