The association between postoperative cognitive dysfunction and cerebral oximetry during cardiac surgery: a secondary analysis of a randomised trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - The association between postoperative cognitive dysfunction and cerebral oximetry during cardiac surgery

T2 - a secondary analysis of a randomised trial

AU - Holmgaard, Frederik

AU - Vedel, Anne G.

AU - Rasmussen, Lars S.

AU - Paulson, Olaf B.

AU - Nilsson, Jens C.

AU - Ravn, Hanne B.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) occurs commonly after cardiac surgery. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to monitor regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) in order to minimise the occurrence of POCD by applying dedicated interventions when rScO2 decreases. However, the association between rScO2 intraoperatively and POCD has not been clarified. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomised trial with physician-blinded NIRS monitoring and cognitive testing at discharge from hospital and at 3 months after surgery. The association between intraoperative rScO2 values and POCD at discharge from hospital and at 3 months after surgery was investigated. The prespecified candidate predictive variable of interest was cumulative time during surgery with rScO2 ≥10% below its preoperative value. Results: One hundred and fifty-three patients had complete NIRS data and neurocognitive assessments at discharge, and 44 of these patients (29%) had POCD. At 3 months, 148 patients had complete data, and 12 (8%) of these patients had POCD. The median time with rScO2 >10% below preoperative values did not differ for patients with and without POCD at discharge (difference=0.0 min; Hodges-Lehmann 95% confidence interval, −3.11–1.47, P=0.88). Other rScO2 time thresholds that were assessed were also not significantly different between those with and without POCD at discharge. This applied both to absolute rScO2 values and relative changes from preoperative values. Similar results were found in relation to POCD at 3 months. Conclusions: No significant association was found between intraoperative rScO2 values and POCD. These findings bring into question the rationale for attempting to avoid decreases in rScO2 if the goal is to prevent POCD. Clinical trial registration: NCT 02185885.

AB - Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) occurs commonly after cardiac surgery. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to monitor regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2) in order to minimise the occurrence of POCD by applying dedicated interventions when rScO2 decreases. However, the association between rScO2 intraoperatively and POCD has not been clarified. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomised trial with physician-blinded NIRS monitoring and cognitive testing at discharge from hospital and at 3 months after surgery. The association between intraoperative rScO2 values and POCD at discharge from hospital and at 3 months after surgery was investigated. The prespecified candidate predictive variable of interest was cumulative time during surgery with rScO2 ≥10% below its preoperative value. Results: One hundred and fifty-three patients had complete NIRS data and neurocognitive assessments at discharge, and 44 of these patients (29%) had POCD. At 3 months, 148 patients had complete data, and 12 (8%) of these patients had POCD. The median time with rScO2 >10% below preoperative values did not differ for patients with and without POCD at discharge (difference=0.0 min; Hodges-Lehmann 95% confidence interval, −3.11–1.47, P=0.88). Other rScO2 time thresholds that were assessed were also not significantly different between those with and without POCD at discharge. This applied both to absolute rScO2 values and relative changes from preoperative values. Similar results were found in relation to POCD at 3 months. Conclusions: No significant association was found between intraoperative rScO2 values and POCD. These findings bring into question the rationale for attempting to avoid decreases in rScO2 if the goal is to prevent POCD. Clinical trial registration: NCT 02185885.

KW - cardiac surgery

KW - delayed neurocognitive recovery

KW - neuropsychological tests

KW - postoperative complications

KW - postoperative neurocognitive disoders

KW - spectroscopy, near-infrared

U2 - 10.1016/j.bja.2019.03.045

DO - 10.1016/j.bja.2019.03.045

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31104758

AN - SCOPUS:85065755050

SN - 0007-0912

VL - 123

SP - 196

EP - 205

JO - British Journal of Anaesthesia

JF - British Journal of Anaesthesia

IS - 2

ER -