Role of brachiocephalic arterial stenosis in development of postoperative complications after cardiosurgery

OBJECTIVE. The study investigated the role of stenosis of brachiocephalic arteries in development of postoperative complications in patients, who underwent the coronary bypass grafting (CABG) and operations concerning heart valve pathology in conditions of extracorporeal circulation. There were observed such complications as stroke (n = 4) and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with delirium in postoperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The research was carried out in 21 patients on the base of Center of сardiosurgery and interventional cardiology of St. Petersburg Multifield Center. All the patients were male aged 64±6,9 years. RESULTS. The study showed that risk of cerebral complications, especially hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with delirium, could increase in case of bilateral carotid stenosis combined with hemodynamically insignificant unilateral vertebral artery stenosis. The significant hemodynamic branchiocephalic arterial stenosis caused chronic and acute clinical signs of cerebrovascular insufficiency in anamnesis. CONCLUSIONS. The high risk of development of severe cerebral complications was associated with hemodynamically significant bilateral carotid stenosis accompanied by hemodynamically significant uni- and bilateral stenosis or one-sided occlusion of cerebral artery. Management of treatment should take into account risk factors of cardiosurgical patients.