"Other" neurologic complications after cardiac surgery

Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2004 Sep;8(3):213-26. doi: 10.1177/108925320400800304.

Abstract

Compared to the neurologic morbidity of stroke and cognitive dysfunction, "other" neurologic complications involving injuries to the brachial plexus, phrenic nerve, cranial nerves, other peripheral nerves, as well as the visual pathways, have been disproportionately underrepresented in the cardiac surgery and anesthesiology literature. These injuries are often missed in the early postoperative period when attention is focused principally on recovery from the acute trespass of cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. However, when these problems do become apparent, they can cause considerable discomfort and morbidity. An overview of the current concepts of injury mechanisms/etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and when possible, prevention of these injuries is presented.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blindness, Cortical / physiopathology
  • Brachial Plexus / injuries
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Horner Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Nerve Injuries
  • Laryngeal Nerves / pathology
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Phrenic Nerve / injuries
  • Phrenic Nerve / pathology
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology*
  • Recurrence