surgery

Objective: Pulsatile flow, generated by a pump during cardiopulmonary bypass, has been accepted as more physiological in coronary arterybypass grafting surgery (CABG). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of pulsatile and nonpulsatile flow on postoperative cognitive function and to review relationship with the biomarkers S100 beta and neuron-specific enolase (NSE).Methods: Patients who underwent isolated CABG were included this prospective, randomized, double-blind study, which was performed between March 2010 and December 2010. Patients were divided into two groups: pulsatile (Group I, n=20) and nonpulsatile (Group II, n=20) flow. Blood samples were collected 1 day before surgery and in the sixth postoperative hour for the analysis of S100 beta and NSE. In addition, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was performed during preoperative period and on third postoperative day. Outcomes were determination of effects of pump flow type on cognitive function and relationships with concentrations of S100 beta and NSE.Results: Forty patients were included. No differences were observed between the groups with respect to complications, mortality, S100 beta (Group I: 1.9 +/- 0.2 mu/L; Group II: 2.0 +/- 0.2 mu/L), NSE (Group I: 12.5 +/- 0.8 mu/L; Group II: 12.4 +/- 0.7 mu/L), MMSE scores [Group I: 25 (23-27); Group II: 25 (23-27)], and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) (p>0.05). No correlation was observed between MMSE scores and concentrations of S100 beta (r=-0.032) and NSE (r=-0.423) (p>0.05).Conclusion: There was no difference between types of pump flow for POCD and no relationship between cognitive dysfunction and S100 beta and NSE concentrations. Pump flow type does not affect NSE concentrations