Preoperative Cerebral Hypoperfusion in the Left, Not in the Right, Hemisphere Is Associated With Cognitive Decline After Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

Patients who underwent cardiac surgery with reduced CBF velocity in the left MCA preoperatively are at greater risk for POCD. Left cerebral hypoperfusion may also represent an independent predictor of POCD in these patients. TCD evaluation may have substantial clinical benefits for the detection of patients at high risk of POCD after cardiac surgery.