DOI: 10.36347/sasjm

Pages: 202-210

Despite improvements in surgical techniques and the implementation of effective brain protection strategies, the incidence of cerebral injury after cardiac surgery has remained relatively constant. Cognitive dysfunction is the most common clinical manifestation of brain injury after cardiac surgery constituting approximately 30 -40%. It can affect different cognitive domains such as attention, memory, learning, visual spatial, motor skills, and executive function. 111 patients aged over 30 years undergoing elective cardiac surgery at our institution between September 2013 and July 2015 were included and tested with addenbrooke score before and 7 days after surgery. Transfusion of stored homologous blood which contains micro particulates (MP) (size <1 micron, leading to embolisation that causes cerebral injury and even alcohol has a toxic effect on the central nervous system. After testing various variables and factors we conclude that POCD is a known entity as a complication after manipulation of aorta during cross clamping, but less emphasised but important factors are blood and it’s product transfusion and alcohol intake