Patients:
Thirty consecutive patients who were to undergo elective ascending and arcus aorta operations by a single surgeon were prospectively evaluated between December 2019 and 2020. Patients younger than 18 years of age, undergoing emergent operation for acute type 1 aortic dissection or receiving antiplatelet-anticoagulant medication were excluded from the study. Demographic parameters, medical history including comorbidities and medications were recorded. Thorough evaluation with echocardiography, carotid-vertebral Doppler imaging and computed tomography were done in all patients. Paraplegia was determined as complete impairment in motor and sensory function of the lower extremities. However, paraparesis refers to partial neurologic dysfunction of the lower extremity.
Transient neurologic dysfunction was defined as postoperative confusion, agitation, delirium, or obtundation with a negative brain computed tomography scan and complete resolution before discharge. In addition, stroke was characterized as a neurological deficit attributed to a persistent acute focal injury of the central nervous system after surgery with positive brain computed tomography.