The Relationship between Low Intraoperative Hematocrit Levels during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Postoperative Neurological Events

Abstract

Objective: The objective of our study is to analyzewhether low intraoperative hematocrit levels have an effectupon postoperative neurological events.Methods: Our study included 140 patients who underwentisolated coronary bypass under cardiopulmonary bypassbetween 2009 and 2012. The main group of the study was70 patients with intraoperative hematocrit levels lower than22%. These patients’ 30-day postoperative neurological (particularlystroke) follow up was registered as the main data ofthe study. Another group of 70 patients possessing the samedemographic features who underwent open heart surgerywith hematocrit levels remaining above 22% were registeredas the control group for perioperative neurological data.Results: The average age of the patients with hematocritlevels below and above 22% was 56.8 ± 5.8 years and 54.1± 7.3 years, respectively. The mean follow-up period of thepatients was 37.2 ± 8.6 days. None of the patients had anyneurological postoperative sequalae. No mortalities occurred.One patient who had mild paresthesia and motor weaknessof the left hand had no pathological finding on computedtomography and was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathydue to intraoperative sternal retraction.Conclusion: Because our study revealed no cerebrovascularevents, coronary bypass surgery under cardiopulmonarybypass may be safely conducted even in patients with hematocritlevels lower than 22%.