Cerebral Desaturation in Cardiac Surgery: the Importance of Monitoring in the Icu

Abstract

Intraoperative cerebral oxygen desaturation measured using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) derived cerebral oximetry has been associated with significant postoperative morbidity in cardiac surgery patients. There is little information on postoperative cerebral oximetry from cardiac surgery patients while in the intensive care unit (ICU); a period of potential significant bleeding, hemodynamic, and respiratory compromise. We examined the relative incidence and clinical significance of cerebral desaturation experienced by cardiac surgery patients in both the intraoperative period (OR) and for the first 24 hours in the postoperative ICU.