A Study Investigating the Relationship Between Intraoperative Brain Oxygen Utilisation Measurements, and Neuropsychological Damage After Cardiac Surgery

Pollock, Marie S (1998) A Study Investigating the Relationship Between Intraoperative Brain Oxygen Utilisation Measurements, and Neuropsychological Damage After Cardiac Surgery. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Cerebral damage can occur in association with cardiac surgery. This thesis relates to a study which attempted to determine predictors of cognitive impairment using a new technique, Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The Critikon NIRS equipment was used to measure patients' cerebral oxygenation and oxygen utilisation, continuously and non- invasively, during cardiac surgery. To assess patients' cognitive function, a battery of neuropsychological tests was administered preoperatively as a baseline measurement, and repeated six days and six months after surgery. The study control consisted of 25 patients who underwent general surgery whose results were compared, retrospectively, with 50 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery. Results of this stage were then tested prospectively in a further 70 patients. Thirty nine per cent of cardiac patients were found to have cognitive impairment at six days while 12% were impaired six months after surgery. No relationship was found between cognitively impaired cardiac patients and the NIRS measurements. Further development of the NIRS monitor is required to counteract the recently discovered problem of the light-piping effect of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This problem reduced the expected volume of brain tissue in which the oxygenation change is being measured from 80 to 20%.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: A J Asbury
• Keywords: Medicine, Surgery
• Date of Award: 1998
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1998-75921
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Nov 2019 17:26
• Last Modified: 19 Nov 2019 17:26
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75921