Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2013, data of a total of 935 patients (747 males, 188 females; mean age 64.3±8.4 years, range 32 to 86 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups including group 1 patients (n=210) with early postoperative delirium and group 2 patients (n=725) attending to scheduled postoperative follow-up visits.
Results: Delirium was significantly more common in the patients with demographic characteristics such as older age and male sex, history of alcohol intake, preoperative atrial fibrillation, increased creatinine levels, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p<0.05). The mean preoperative and postoperative platelet volume and C-reactive protein levels were higher in group 1 (p=0.0001). The mean aortic cross-clamp and cardiovascular bypass time, intubation time, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and the length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital were significantly higher in the patients with delirium (p<0.05). Sternum revision (p=0.0001) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (p=0.03) were significantly higher in group 1. Early neurological events were observed in 13 patients (6.2%) in group 1 and in 10 patients (1.4%) in group 2 (p=0.0001). Mortality was observed in 10 patients (4.8%) in group 1 and three patients (0.4%) in group 2, suggesting that the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Our study results show that complications can be minimized by analyzing the associated risk factors in the development of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative delirium with a full collaboration with liaison psychiatry in the intensive care unit for the patients who are at risk for delirium.
The causes of higher morbidity and mortality of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care units (ICUs) have been associated commonly with cardiac, renal, and pulmonary complications; however, acute brain dysfunction has been ignored.[2] Facing postoperative psychosocial difficulties related to either the existing disease or those experienced during the treatment process in the progression of the life-threatening serious diseases is commonly encountered. In patients with a disease requiring intensive care during treatment, psychiatric manifestations such as anxiety, depression, cooperation difficulties, and delirium can be seen.[3]
Delirium (organic brain syndrome) is a temporary organic mental syndrome beginning suddenly, characterized by the impairment of cognitive functions, alterations in the consciousness state, attention-deficit, increased or decreased psychomotor activity, and the irregularity in sleep-wakefulness cycle.[3] It is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the earlier stage following cardiac surgery and it is potentially lifethreatening.[4] The incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium has been reported to be 30% to 80%.[5] In the literature, delirium incidence has been reported to be 41.7% after CABG and to be 10.3% after cardiac surgery.[6]
In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and to identify possible risk factors associated with this complication.
The exclusion criteria were preoperative dementia, history of psychiatric disorder such as depression and cognitive disorder, history of opioid and substance use, acute and chronic renal failure, history of head injury, peripheral artery disease, valvular disease, carotid artery or congenital heart surgery with CABG, congestive heart failure, previous myocardial infarction within the past one month, previous cerebrovascular accident within the past six months, neoplastic disease including benign and malignant tumors, endocrinological disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism), autoimmune diseases, systemic inflammatory disease, the use of steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressive drug treatment within the past two weeks before surgery, the presence of the clinical infection signs [fever 37.5 °C, C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥5 mg/dL or leukocyte count >12000/μL] before surgery, application of femoral artery cannulation due to the ascending aorta calcification, emergency surgery, CABG surgery on a beating heart, and reoperation. In our clinic, examinations of the anastomosis sites of the aorta were performed by palpation, as we do not perform computed tomography (CT) preoperatively on a regular basis. In patients who were ineligible for side clamping, proximal anastomoses were performed under a single cross-clamping. These patients were excluded from the study.
A total of 935 patients (747 males, 188 females; mean age 64.3±8.4 years, range 32 to 86 years) who did not receive any psychiatric treatment in the preoperative period with normal carotid and vertebral artery systems and who underwent elective isolated CABG were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=210) consisted of patients in whom manifestations of delirium developed within the first 72 hours of surgery, while group 2 (n=725) included patients who attended to scheduled postoperative follow-up visits.
All data were accessed by using the archives and the record system of the hospital. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, complete blood counts routinely studied preoperatively and postoperatively (leukocytes, platelets, hematocrit, and hemoglobin), creatinine, and CRP levels were recorded. Data including the number of distal anastomosis, the use of blood products, duration of aortic cross-clamp, cardiopulmonary bypass time, intubation time, and length of stay in the ICU and hospital were analyzed. In addition, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores for all patients were recorded.
Arterial hypertension was considered in patients with a measurement of blood pressure of above 140 mmHg systolic and 90 mmHg diastolic for at least three times or active use of anti-hypertensives. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting blood glucose level of above 126 mg/dL in at least two different measurements or active use of antidiabetics. Smoking was defined as current smoking or ex-smokers who quitted smoking in the last 10 years. Hyperlipidemia was accepted as a total cholesterol of >220 mg/dL and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of >130 mg/dL or use of antihyperlipidemics. Cerebrovascular accident was accepted as acutely developed temporary or permanent new major (type II) focal or global deficit within the postoperative 24 hours and lasting at least 72 hours.[8] All patients having the diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident were assessed by the neurologist and the diagnoses were confirmed through imaging studies.
The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee. A written informed consent was obtained from each patient. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
All patients received 0.5 mg oral alprazolam on the night before surgery. Intramuscular 5 mg midazolam was injected 30 minutes before the operation as premedication. Intravenous midazolam (0.1 mg/kg), fentanyl (0.01 mg/kg) and rocuronium bromide (0.6 mg/kg) were administered for induction. Intravenous rocuronium bromide (0.15 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.03 mg/kg) were given for maintenance.
Median sternotomy was applied following the routine anesthesia application during surgery. Bypass grafts (saphenous vein and internal mammary artery) were prepared. Systemic heparinization was ensured by administrating 300 IU/kg heparin in a fashion which activated clotting time (ACT) would be higher than 450 seconds. Cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated by inserting two-stage venous cannula into the ascending aorta and into the right atrium. In all patients, non-pulsatile roller pump and membrane oxygenator were used for CPB. Surgical procedures were established in moderate systemic hypothermia (28-30 ºC). Cardiopulmonary bypass was applied in a fashion which flow rate would be 2.2 to 2.5 L/min/m2; the mean perfusion pressure was set between 50 and 80 mmHg, while hematocrit values were set between 20% and 25%. Myocardium protection was done via antegrade hypothermic and hyperpotasemic blood cardioplegia. In all patients, the left internal mammary artery was used as the graft in the revascularization of the left anterior descending artery and saphenous vein was used as the graft in the revascularization of other coronary arteries. All proximal anastomoses were done on a beating heart under partial clamp.
All patients were taken into the ICU as intubated. The patients who have spontaneous respiration and whose orientation and cooperation returned to normal were extubated provided that their hemodynamic and respiratory functions were stable. Meanwhile, respiratory functions were frequently assessed spirometrically and with the measurements of blood gases. In addition, electrolyte imbalance, arterial oxygen, and lactic acid values were monitored closely and periodically via arterial blood gas analysis. Also, 50 mg intravenous dexketoprofen and 1 g intravenous paracetamol were ensured to all patients in the postoperative care unit.
All patients in which delirium manifestations were seen were assessed by a psychiatrist and neurologist. Haloperidol (0.5-5 mg/day, intramuscular) was initiated as the first-line treatment to the patients in whom postoperative delirium diagnosis was established. Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride infusion treatment was initiated to the patients with agitation as loading dose at a rate of 1 μg/kg/hour. When agitation and other symptoms were regressed, 0.5 μg/kg/hour maintenance dose was started. Dexmedetomidine hydrochloride infusion treatment was applied to all patients for 48 hours. The hemodynamics of the patients after the treatment were stable and they were transferred to the clinical follow-up provided that they were unable to achieve verbal communication.
Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS
version 12.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
Normally distributed data were expressed in mean ±
standard deviation, while abnormally distributed data
were expressed in median (minimum-maximum). The
data obtained by dividing were given as percentages
(%). Among the data measured, the normality of
the distribution was evaluated by histogram or
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, whereas the homogeneity
of the distribution was evaluated by the Levene’s test
for equality of variance. The difference between the
groups was evaluated by Student t-test in normal and
homogenous distribution and by Mann-Whitney U test
in abnormal and homogenous distribution. Parametric
or non-parametric Pearson chi-square or Fisher’s
exact tests were used to analyze the differences
between the groups. Forward stepwise multivariate
logistic regression models were created to identify
the independent predictors of postoperative delirium. Variables with a p value of less than 0.10 in univariate
analyses were included in the multivariate model.
Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan Meier
method and the statistical differences were confirmed
with log-rank test. A p value of <0.05 was considered
statistically significant.
Table 1: The confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU)
Table 2: Demographic and clinical properties of the patients
Pre- and postoperative blood chemistry test results are shown in Table