Steps for reducing the risk of stroke in patients undergoing heart surgery are detailed in a new American Heart Association Scientific Statement, “Considerations for Reduction of Risk of Perioperative Stroke for Adult Patients Undergoing Cardiac and Thoracic Aortic Operations,” published in the American Heart Association’s flagship journal Circulation. Pre-screening, surgical technique changes, early diagnosis while in surgery and quick team response all contribute to better survival rates and reduce the risks of major disability for patients.
“Cardiac surgery has come a long way in recent decades, and improvements in pre- operative screening and treatment now really make a difference between a patient suffering a disabling stroke or surviving and thriving with a good quality of life,” said Mario F.L. Gaudino, M.D., chair of the writing group for the scientific statement, and a cardiac surgeon and professor of cardiothoracic surgery at New York- Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “This statement pro- vides an overview of the latest surgical protocols and techniques that can reduce stroke risk after heart surgery and improve patient survival and outcomes.”
A stroke that happens during or soon after heart surgery is called a perioperative stroke. Patients undergoing heart surgery who experience perioperative stroke have a 5 to 10 times higher risk of in-hospital death, increased costs and length of hospital stay, and increased risk of cognitive decline one year after surgery. The statement cites stroke as the most feared com- plication of cardiac surgery – most patients would sacrifice longevity for freedom from stroke.
Stroke risk for common cardiac procedures varies depending on both patient risk factors and the procedure. The risk is about 1% for a valve repair or coronary artery bypass alone; 2-3% if those procedures are combined; and 3-9% for surgeries involving the aorta. Stroke risk is also higher for the 27% to 40% of patients who develop atrial fibrillation after heart surgery.
Typical pre-surgery screening for perioperative stroke risk includes an assessment of age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, smoking, heart failure, renal disease, atrial fibrillation and prior history of stroke or transient ischemic at- tack. The scientific statement further suggests monitoring and actions to diagnose and treat a surgery-related stroke quickly.
Highlights of the statement’s recommendations are:
Prevention during surgery
- Monitor blood flow to the brain;
- Intraoperative imaging of the aorta;
- Tight blood pressure control; and
- Closely monitor blood loss and the need for transfusion.
Early stroke diagnosis
- Perform a complete neurologic exam as soon as possible after surgery;
- If a patient is high-risk for perioperative stroke, consider a fast-track anaesthesia protocol to help quickly identify signs of a stroke after surgery;
- Have a stroke team in place to pro- vide emergency treatment if a stroke is suspected; and
- Conduct a head CT and CT angiography of head and neck as soon as stroke is suspected.
Rapid treatment of perioperative stroke
- Transfer the patient to intensive care;
- Optimize brain oxygenation and perfusion;
- Consider clot busting or clot removal therapy; and
- Evaluate patient’s speech and swallow function; evaluate for rehabilitation; screen for depression; and begin preventive therapy for deep vein thrombosis.
“It’s imperative that a stroke team work together to assess a patient’s health before,
during and after heart surgery. In addition to the surgeons, this multidisciplinary team should include stroke neurologists, neuro-interventionalists, neurocritical care specialists and neuro-anaesthesiologists,” added Dr Gaudino. “Following these protocols can lead to quicker response times by medical teams in the event of an emergency and help to reduce the frequency of neurological injuries among patients.”
