Jugular bulb oximetry during cardiac surgery

Imbalance between cerebral oxygen supply and demand is thought to play an i mportant role in the development of cerebral injury during cardiac surgery This article presents an overview of cerebral oxygenation monitored by jugu lar bulb oximetry during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The g eneral principles of jugular bulb oximetry including physiology, intermitte nt and continuous monitoring, technical considerations, limitations and pot ential complications are discussed. Different applications of jugular bulb oximetry during bypass surgery and the possible therapeutic approaches to i mpaired cerebral oxygenation are described.