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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2006;29:74-81
© 2006 Elsevier Science NL
a Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Cardiology, Kievskaya street, 111A, 634012 Tomsk, Russia
b Department of Ambulatory Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology Tomsk Research Center, 634012 Tomsk, Russia
c Department of Cardiac Surgery, Institute of Cardiology Tomsk Research Center, 634012 Tomsk, Russia
Received 20 March 2005; received in revised form 22 August 2005; accepted 3 October 2005.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +7 3822 558298; fax: +7 3822 555057. (Email: nuclear{at}cardio.tsu.ru).
| Abstract |
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Key Words: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery Cardiopulmonary bypass Off-pump coronary revascularization Cognitive function Cerebrovascular complications Brain SPECT
| 1. Introduction |
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The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive function, as measured by serial neuropsychological testing, and cerebral perfusion, as measured by brain SPECT scanning in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) following off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Besides, we estimated the relationship between cerebral blood flow, cognitive functions, surgery parameters and cardiac function in these patients. Also brain-protective effects of instenon were studied.
| 2. Materials and methods |
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All patients underwent CABG, of these 22 patients with cardiopulmonary bypass without pharmacological brain protection (group 1). In 21 randomly assigned cases employing CPB, for the prevention of the impairments of cerebral perfusion and cognitive deficit instenon ("Nycomed") was administered (group 2). The drug was injected intravenously by leaving (2 ml of instenon was soluted in 250 ml 0.9% solution of NaCl) 1 day before surgery, during CABG (before start CPB) and for 4 days after surgical intervention once a day. Then, for 10 days the patients continued taking instenon orally (one tablet three times a day). In 22 patients off-pump coronary revascularization (OPCAB) using the Octopus stabilization system "Medtronic" (USA) was carried out (group 3) [4]. Patient demographics are provided in Table 1 . The groups of patients had no differences by age, sex, education, CAD duration and extensiveness, but index of coronary arteries bypass (bypass/patients) was higher in group 2 in comparison to group 3 (3.3 vs 1.9, p < 0.05).
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Informed consent was obtained from each patient. The study was approved by Ethics Committee of human research of the Tomsk Institute of Cardiology.
2.2 Anesthesia and surgical procedure
The patients who underwent CABG were operated on with standard anesthesia techniques and surgical procedures. The anesthetic protocol consisted of premedication with relanium 10 mg, morphine 10 mg and atropine 0.5 mg. Muscle relaxation was provided by arduan 0.1 mg/kg. Anesthesia was maintained with an infusion of fentanyl bolus doses of up to 10 µg/kg x min. For the conventional CABG, all patients underwent a midline sternotomy. CPB using the heart lung machine (Jostra, Germany) was applied. Cardiopulmonary bypass was under normothermia (arterial blood temperature 36 °C). The cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was primed with isoosmolar solution with calculated hemotocritis above 25%. The mean arterial pressure was kept above 70 mmHg. Myocardial protection during aortic cross-clamping was accomplished with antegrade blood warm cardioplegia. In patients of group 1, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 106 ± 8 min, the mean aortic cross-clamp time 72 ± 5 min, the mean extubation time 20 ± 4.5 h and index of coronary anastamoses (bypass/patient) 2.8. In patients of group 2, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 112 ± 9 min, the mean aortic cross-clamp time 68 ± 6 min, the mean extubation time 19 ± 3.5 h and index of coronary anastamoses (bypass/patient) 3.3 (Table 1).
For the off-pump CABG (group 3), midline sternotomy was performed in all patients. The Octopus II system (Medtronic Inc., USA) was used in all patients to stabilize the suture site. In beating heart surgery patients, the mean extubation time was 17 ± 3 h and index of coronary anastamoses (bypass/patient) 1.9 (Table 1).
2.3 Protocol
All patients underwent brain SPECT scanning and comprehensive neuropsychological testing 1 day before, 1014 days and 6 months after surgery. To reduce the "testretest" effects different versions of neuropsychological tests were used.
2.4 Brain SPECT
99mTc-PAO (Amersham, UK) was prepared according to instruction and used within 5 min after labeling. Perfusion brain SPECT was performed 1012 min after the injection of 99mTc-HMPAO in dose 25 mCi. SPECT examinations were performed using a rotating gamma-camera ("Omega 500", Technicare Corp.) equipped with a high-resolution low-energy collimator (140 keV) and interfaced with a dedicated computer system for scintigraphic data processing ("Scinti", Gelmos). Sixty-four projections in 64 x 64 matrix, of 20 s each, were acquired over 360°. Tomographic sections were obtained using Parzen smoothing filter as a series transverse 2 pixel slices.
2.5 Data analysis
SPECT brain images were divided into 14 symmetrical (right and left) regions of interest per patients: inferior and superior frontal lobes, temporal, anterior and posterior parietal, occipital lobes and cerebellar hemispheres. To calculate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF, ml/100 g/min), a three-component model of kinetics 99mTc-HMPAO by Lassen et al. [5], modified by Yonecura et al. [6], was used. A 5% or more decrease in postoperative rCBF in comparison to preoperative rCBF was defined as significant.
2.6 Neuropsychological testing
We assessed the patients cognitive status by means of seven neuropsychological tests that were most sensitive to cerebral damage resulting from cardiac surgery and CPB (Table 2
) [7]. A 20% decrease in postoperative test scores in comparison with preoperative baseline on two or more tests was defined as "cognitive dysfunction".
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| 3. Results |
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Measures of immediate verbal memory, delayed verbal memory and learning showed a significant decrease after surgery with CPB on an average of 25.6% (p = 0.022), 43.3% (p = 0.000003) and 23.1% (p = 0.00000), respectively, by the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), for delayed memory and learning that remained for 6 months (Fig. 1 ). Also, the patients of group 1 demonstrated a significantly postoperative psychomotor slowing by Trail Making Test (TMT) (B) on 13.5% (p = 0.03), decrease in immediate visual memory by CFT (early) on 26.3% (p = 0.04) and delayed visual memory by the Complex Figure Test (CFT) (delayed) on 36% (p = 0.025) (Fig. 1), for delayed visual memory that remained for 6 months. Thus, 21 (96%) patients following coronary revascularization using CPB showed a cognitive deficit, which was 12 (55%) in 6 months after surgery (Fig. 2 ).
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Also, the relationship between duration of CPB and immediate verbal memory in early postoperative period (R 2 = 0.255; p = 0.033) was found, as well as duration of mechanical lung ventilation correlated with early postoperative decrease in psychomotor speed and attention by Trail Making Test (Part B) (R 2 = 0.316; p = 0.024).
Patients of the group 2 have shown deterioration of delayed verbal memory in 23% (p = 0.0004) and learning on 11.6% (p = 0.0001). These parameters returned to baseline in 6 months after surgery (Fig. 1). In the group of patients with preventive administration of instenon, cognitive dysfunction was noted only in 11 (61%) and was less than in group 1 (p < 0.05). After 6 months the number of such patients decreased twice (Fig. 2).
In the patients of group 2, no significant declines of cerebral perfusion in the early postoperative measurements were found. Moreover, after 6 months in this group of patients we observed the increase in cerebral perfusion in superior frontal and right occipital regions (Table 3). In early postoperative period only 5 (24%) patients of group 2 demonstrated deterioration in cortical perfusion; moreover, in 8 (38%) cases even the increase in rCBF took place. During 6 months of follow-up the number of such patients reached 11 (52%) (Fig. 3).
Linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between rCBF, cognitive tests scores and parameters of surgery in such group of patients. Prolongation of mechanical lung ventilation negatively influenced the immediate visual memory (R 2 = 0.295; p = 0.024) and increased the number of bypassed coronary arteries with deteriorated rCBF in left superior frontal region in early period of surgery (R 2 = 0.589; p = 0.016).
Improvement of cerebral perfusion in 6 months after CABG was connected with the improvement of cardiac function after surgery. Increase in left ventricular ejection fraction related with the rising of rCBF in right temporal and left occipital regions (R 2 = 0.901; p = 0.014 and R 2 = 0.826; p = 0.033, correspondingly).
In patients of group 3, cognitive deficit in early period after surgery was found only in 54% of cases (Fig. 2). Measures of immediate verbal memory, delayed verbal memory and learning showed a significant decrease in the early period after surgery on an average of 20.3% (p = 0.0004), 23% (p = 0.0005) and 11.3% (p = 0.003), respectively (Fig. 1). Also the patients of group 3 demonstrated a significant postoperative improvement of psychomotor speed by TMT (B) on 9.6% (p = 0.03) and attention by The BourdonWiersma Dot Cancellation Test (DCT) on 66.7% (p = 0.01) (Fig. 1).
Only three (14%) of the patients following coronary revascularization on beating heart showed a cognitive deficit in 6 months after surgery, which was significantly less than in early postoperative period and in comparison to group 1 (p < 0.05) (Fig. 2).
The operations on beating heart were accompanied by the increase in cerebral perfusion in superior frontal regions in 8.9% (p < 0.05), in inferior parietal regions in 9.8% (p < 0.01) and in right occipital regions in 8.4% (p < 0.01) in the early postoperative period (Table 3). Significant improvement of rCBF in such regions remained for 6 months after CABG (Table 3).
After off-pump coronary revascularization, the improvement of cerebral perfusion was found in 13 (59%) patients, and only in 2 (9%) a decrease in rCABG was revealed (Fig. 3). In the 6 months after CABG, an increase in rCABG in comparison to baseline was found in 14 (63.6%) patients and in two cases postoperative deterioration of brain perfusion was remained.
A significant association between postoperative rCBF changes and dynamics of cognitive function was found in group 3 by linear regression analysis. In early postoperative period, increase in cortical perfusion in right superior frontal region correlated well with the improvement of attention by DCT (R 2 = 0.444; p = 0.035). Improvement of perfusion in right occipital region positive influenced on psychomotor speed by TMT (Part B) (R 2 = 0.519; p = 0.018) and attention by DCT (R 2 = 0.526; p = 0.019). In the 6 months after CABG on beating heart, significant relationship between increase in rCBF in left superior frontal region and improvement in immediate verbal memory (R 2 = 0.375; p = 0.034) was found. Also, increase in rCBF in right superior frontal region positive improved attention by DCT (R 2 = 0.489; p = 0.011). Growing of perfusion in left posterior parietal region in the 6 months after CABG had relationship with the improvement in immediate and delayed verbal memory (R 2 = 0.549; p = 0.006 and R 2 = 0.410; p = 0.025, correspondingly). Increase in rCBF in right posterior parietal region correlated well with the improvement in immediate verbal memory (R 2 = 0.660; p = 0.042), and growing of perfusion in right occipital region improved psychomotor speed by TMT (Part B) (R 2 = 0.809; p = 0.038) and attention by DCT (R 2 = 0.410; p = 0.003). Improvement in psychomotor speed by TMT (Part B) (R 2 = 0.618; p = 0.021) and attention by DCT (R 2 = 0.911; p = 0.044) also related with the increase in left ventricular ejection fraction in the early period after surgery.
In early postoperative period, prolongation of mechanical lung ventilation negatively influenced immediate verbal memory (R 2 = 0.305; p = 0.040) and increased the number of bypassed coronary arteries with deteriorated rCBF in left posterior parietal region (R 2 = 0.824; p = 0.001) in group 3.
| 4. Discussion |
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In spite of widely using the neuropsychological tests for neurocognitive function evaluation after CABG, the neuropsychological test studies have several limitations. As such, the influence on neuropsychological test scores of testretest effects, normal test variability, and the effects of other factors such as general anesthesia or medication, could not be determined. In addition, patients may be anxious, depressed, or fatigue, conditions limiting their ability to undergo extensive testing.
On the other hand, brain SPECT with 99mTc-HMPAO occupies a prominent place in cerebral blood flow estimation [5,6]. Brain SPECT testretest reliability has been established for patients tested under similar environmental and hemodynamic condition [13]. Brain SPECT has been employed in the functional imaging of cognitive processes, and has been shown to be responsive to the internal cognitive state [14]. In our study in the early period after CABG, in 68% patients, a decrease in rCBF was found, and after 6 months brain perfusion was lower than the baseline in 55% cases. Our findings agree with previous research that found significantly reduced cerebral perfusion after the operation in on-pump CABG patients [15]. On the other hand, in the study by Hall et al. only 15 of the 35 on-pump CABG patients showed worsening of perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass [3].
In our study, neurocognitive function significantly correlated with the duration of mechanical lung ventilation in early postoperative period. Relationship between postoperative rCBF changes and dynamics of cognitive function was found in early period and after 6 months following CABG. According to this we suggest an agreement with other authors [16,17] that the early postoperative cognitive deficit reflect a combination of nonspecific effects of surgery (stress of hospital admission, sleep disturbance, fatigue and new environments) and anesthesia, superimposed on the effects of microemboli and/or hypoperfusion, the most frequently postulated pathophysiological mechanisms of cognitive change after open-heart surgery.
Persistent cognitive deficit observed after 6 months following CABG can be explained, in general, by the long-term consequences of extracorporeal circulation. According to this we can suggest that one of the most important causes of cerebral dysfunction after CABG involving CPB is microembolization of the brain vessels, associated with specific surgical and perfusion manipulation (the insertion of the aortic cannula, the start of CPB and, especially, removal of the aortic cross-clamp). Other researchers mention these phenomena in their works [18,19].
The sources of cerebral microemboli in cardiac surgery have become, as a rule, platelet aggregation, air, lipid droplets and particulate debris from atherosclerotic plaque in the ascending aorta [19]. Recent studies indicate that the degree of arterosclerotic disease of the aorta and the number of emboli detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound during CPB are correlated with the changes in cognitive function [19]. Thus, using filter for microemboli may be helpful for the prevention of brain injury after CABG [20].
The mechanism of the preventive action of instenon on cerebral perfusion and cognitive function is connected with the effect of compounds of the medicine (ethamivan, hexobendin and ethophyllin) on pathogenic steps of ischemic and hypoxic cerebral damage. Ethamivan stimulates respiratory and vasomotor centers, and activates limbic system and reticular formation. These effects improve the functioning of cortical and subcortical neurons and help to reduce neurocognitive deficit. Hexobendin stimulates anaerobic glycolysis and improves cerebral metabolism in hypoxia. Ethophyllin improves in myocardial metabolism and heart contractility and as a result increases cerebral blood flow [21].
In turn, the increase in cerebral perfusion and some improvement in test scores of cognitive function in our study after CABG on beating heart are connected with normalization of cardiac hemodynamics, in particular with the increase of left ventricular ejection fraction [22].
The observed early neurocognitive deficit after CABG without the use of CPB may be associated with general nonspecific aspects of cardiac surgery, particularly, with anesthetization supply. The prolonged deterioration of cognitive function recorded in 14% of patients can be related to microemboli releasing during partial aortic clamping [23]. However, data about the influence of beating heart surgery on occurrence of cognitive deficit are various. Our result is in contrast with the follow-up study of Taggart et al.[24], who found no difference between the off-pump and on-pump CABG patients after 3 months. Murkin et al. [25], however, found a significantly lower incidence of cognitive deficit at 5 days (66% vs 90%, respectively, p = 0.005) and 3 months postoperatively (5% vs 50%, respectively, p = 0.0011) in off-pump surgery patients compared with on-pump CABG patients. In the study by Stroobant et al. [26] was also found a significant difference between the two groups 6 months after surgery.
The main limitation of our study is the fact that on-pump groups included more patients with a higher number of grafts. At the same time groups did not differ with regard demographic variables, important risk factors and postoperative factors.
Although some selection bias cannot be excluded, we conclude that CABG with use of extracorporeal circulation in 55% of cases is complicated by long-term neurocognitive dysfunction, connected with the decrease of cerebral perfusion. The coronary revascularization on beating heart or preventive administration of instenon helps significantly to minimize the risk of cerebrovascular complication, respectively, to 1.8 and 3.9 times.
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