Original Article

Cerebral Complication after Open Heart Surgery

Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

^* Direct communications to: Nongchana Klangsuk, B.Sc., CVT Unit, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract

(Extra-Corpor. Technol. 19[3) p. 274-280 Fall 1987, 10 ref.) The incidence of brain complication after open heart surgery in Rajvithi Hospital has been around 2-3% each year until 1985. Since January 1986, the Capiox II membrane oxygenator has been on routine use in alternate with the Bentley bubble oxygenator. There has been increasing incidence of cerebral complication since the beginning of the year. Retrospective study is carried on to analyze brain complications after open heart surgery during January to May 1986. During this period there were 96 patients ranging in age from 9 months to 55 years, submitted for open heart surgery. Among these there were 13 patients suffering cerebral complication, namely subarachnoid or subdural hemorrhage and brain infarction, of which 6 patients died. There was no statistical significance of type of oxygenators which would cause cerebral complication. The cerebral complication was related to the weight of patients, degree of acidosis and pO₂ during bypass and immediately after. It is concluded that these cerebral complications could be lessened if control of blood gas and pH is optimum.