Usefulness of Cerebral Oximetry in Preventing Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

AANA Journal  February 2017  Vol. 85, No. 1 49 Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) following coronary artery bypass grafting has a negative impact on patients physically and psychologically. Of increasing interest is the role that cerebral autoregulation plays in postoperative neurologic outcomes. We sought evidence examining the usefulness of cerebral oximetry data in preventing POCD. Three hundred eighty potential evidence sources were located. Twelve evidence sources (8 randomized controlled trials, 2 retrospective reviews, and 2 prospective cohort studies with a retrospective cohort control) met inclusion criteria. Although the neurologic assessment tools, desaturation definitions, and interventional protocols varied, strong statistical significance links the use of cerebral oximetry information to the prevention of POCD.