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.