Neurocognitive impairment after off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery – an Iranian experience

BACKGROUND Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide, and it may be accompanied by postoperative neurocognitive impairment. Although this complication has been attributed to the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, it is still a matter of debate whether the switch from on-pump to off-pump technique affects the cognitive function. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the impact of the on-pump and off-pump techniques on neurocognitive impairment in low-risk CABG surgery groups. METHODS In a descriptive and analytic study, 201 CABG patients with left-ventricular ejection fraction >30%, and without cardiac arrhythmia were enrolled. Before the elective operation, all patients underwent neurological examination and neurocognitive test, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Two months following the operation, both on- and off-pump, the patients were re-examined by MMSE to detect any neurocognitive impairment. RESULTS Out of 154 patients included in the study, 95 (61.6%) and 59 (38.3%) patients were in off-pump and on-pump groups, respectively. Mean age of the patients was 57.17 ± 9.82 years. A 2-month postoperative neurocognitive impairment was detected among 17 patients of on-pump group (28.8%) and in 28 cases of off-pump group (29.4%) (P = 0.54). The mean postoperative MMSE scores were not comparable between groups (25.01 ± 4.49 in off-pump group versus 23.73 ± 4.88 in on-pump group, P = 0.09). CONCLUSION The present study revealed that in low-risk patients undergoing CABG surgery, either the techniques of on-pump or off-pump did not differ regarding the neurocognitive outcome 2 months after the procedure.