What Researchers Did
Researchers observed 1,700 heart surgeries using a heart-lung machine (extracorporeal circulation) over five years to track brain embolism incidents.
What They Found
They identified 20 cases of brain embolisms, with 18 occurring during surgery and 2 at the end. Nine cases were caused by air, four by fatty plaque, and seven were of uncertain origin but likely gaseous. Ten patients showed minor signs, and ten showed moderate signs, often leading to epilepsy later. Four patients had severe outcomes, including one death and three with lasting brain damage, and early hyperbaric oxygen treatment was noted as highly beneficial.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing complex heart surgeries involving a heart-lung machine could potentially benefit from early hyperbaric oxygen therapy if they experience a brain embolism. This treatment may help reduce severe long-term neurological problems following such a complication.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian. However, it covers cerebral arterial embolism, which is related to arterial gas embolism, a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
This observational study from 1977 does not provide specific details on the hyperbaric oxygen treatment protocols or a controlled comparison group, and medical practices have advanced significantly since its publication.