Background- Neurocognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB or “pump”) is a common complication, reported in up to 53% of patients. In many patients this morbidity is only mild and transient, but in 5% of cases, it is severe.
Method-In this prospective study from June 2002 to July 2004,186 cases underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) using CPB or off-pump CABG (OPCAB), and they were evaluated for neurocognitive complications by mini-mental status examination.
Results- The average age of the patients was 56±6.2 years, 62% were male and 38% were female. 121 operations were performed with CPB (on-pump) and 65 operations were done off-pump. Mini-mental status test was normal in 50% of off-pump CABGs and in 43% of on-pump CABGs, very mild disturbance was seen in 48% of off-pump CABGs and in 54% of on-pump CABGs (p value=0.192, NS), mild disturbance was seen in 2% of off-pump CABGs and in 3% of on-pump CABGs (p value 0.392, NS), and moderate or severe disturbance was not seen in either group.
Conclusion- In our study, there was no significance difference in the frequency of postoperative neurocognitive complications between off-pump and on-pump CABG patients.