This study aimed to identify preoperative predictors of seizures after cardiac surgery and their impact on postoperative outcomes. The study analyzed 2578 patients who underwent cardiac procedures between 2007-2009. Seizures occurred in 1.2% of patients, usually within 2 days of surgery. Independent risk factors for seizures included critical preoperative states like ventricular fibrillation and the need for ionotropes or IABP. Patients who experienced seizures had higher rates of mortality, complications, and lower 1-year survival compared to those without seizures. The study found embolic infarcts on CT scans in 34% of seizure patients, suggesting cerebral embolism plays a role in postoperative seizures.

1. Presented by -
Dr Kunwar Sidharth Saurabh

2. AIM OF THE
STUDY
• TO DEFINE "PRE" OPERATIVE PREDICTORS OF
SEIZURES
• IMPACT ON POSTOPERATIVE OUTCOME I.e
morbidity, mortality and 1-year survival

3. INTRODUCTION
• Seizures occurring after cardiac surgery are thought to be result of -
• Cerebral ischemia from hypoperfusion
• Particulate emboli
• Air emboli
• Metabolic derangements
• Drug interactions
• Drug withdrawal (eg Alcohol)

4. PATIENT
POPULATION
AND DATA
• 2578 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS
UNDERGOING CARDIAC PROCEDURES
BETWEEN APRIL 2007 TO DECEMBER
2009.
• RETROSPECTIVE DATABASE WAS ALSO
ADDED TO THE PROSPECTIVE
DATABASE

5. DEFINITIONS
• Critical preoperative states were defined as -
• Presence of VT or VF
• Preoperative cardiac massage
• Preoperative ventilation
• Preoperative requirement of ionotropes
• Preoperative requirement of IABP

6. DEFINITIONS (contd)
• SEIZURE WAS DEFINED AS -
Sudden episode of transient neurologic symptoms
featuring involuntary motor movements OR by
EEG in patients with non-conclusive seizures.
Status epilepticus was defined as continuous
seizures or intermittent seizure WITHOUT return
of consciousness lasting longer than 30 minutes.
• SEIZURES WERE CLASSIFIED BY ATTENDING
NEUROLOGIST BASED ON CLINICAL HISTORY AND
EXAMINATION , REVERSING SEDATION AND
PARALYSIS IN ALL PATIENTS.

7. Contd..
CT scans are currently performed for
ALL seizures, with the protocol
evolving during the study period.
EARLY PROTOCOL WAS NOT TO PERFORM
SCANS FOR ISOLATED SEIZURES THAT
RESOLVED SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO
NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT AFTER 24 HOURS.
MRI was performed in non-concluding CT reports, if the patient was non
ionotropic dependent.
OPERATIVE MORTALITY was defined as death within the index
hospitalization or within 30 days of operation , REGARDLESS of the cause

8. SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
General pattern were noted as
per institutional preferred
practices.
All patients had TEE for
evaluation of thoracic aorta for
evaluation of atheroma
Routine EPIAORTIC USG to
identify optimal cannulation
sites.
All patients except those with
known prothrombotic states
received aminocaproic acid at a
dose of 150mg/kg over 30 min,
the 25mg/kg/hr for the
duration of case.
APROTININ and TRANEMAXIC
acid were not used.

9. Contd..
On pump CABG was performed with
single clamp technique.
Off pump CABG , proximal
anastomosis was done by using side
biting clamps or anastomotic device.
CO2 was routinely used for de-
airing.
TEE universally applied to aid de-
airing.
Approximately 45 risk factor
variables and 8 outcome variables
were gathered on each patient.

10. RESULTS
• Incidence of seizures -
• Post op seizures were observed in
31 patients (incidence =1.2%)
• Occurred at a median of 2 days
post-op.
• 48% occurred within 24hrs of the
procedure.
• Types of seizures -
• GTCS – 71%
• SIMPLE/COMPLEX PARTIAL –
26%
• STATUS EPILEPTICUS – 3%

11. Contd..
• Incidence of seizures in different procedures-
• CABG – 0.1%
• ISOLATED VALVE – 1%
• VALVE WITH CABG – 2.5%
• AORTIC SURGERY – 4.5%
• VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE AND TRANSPLANT – 0.8%

12. Burden of
seizures
Patient who had seizures had 5 fold
higher hospital mortality.
Patient who had seizures had significantly
higher incidence of all major post-op
complications.
Common etiologies that
were observed in head CT
-
Embolic infarcts – 34%
Watershed infarcts – 3%
ICH – 8%
Half of the patients with seizures suffered a
stroke.

13. Contd ..
• 22 of 31 patients who suffered seizures survived to discharge.
• 60% were discharged without neurological deficit.
• Lower 1 year survival rate for patients having seizures (53% v/s 84%)

14. ASSOCIATION
BETWEEN
SEIZURES AND
POST –OP
MORBIDITY

16. Independent
Risk Factors

17. DISCUSSION
• Incidence of seizures – 1.2%
• Seizures can be under estimated in the immediate postoperative
period when the patients are sedated and paralyzed.
• Retrospective studies showed Tranemaxic Acid as independent
predictor of seizures, hence it was not used in this study.
• Seizures are considered as markers of both focal and global cerebral
injury.
• Increased risk were observed in operations which required opening of
chambers suggesting role of air and particulate embolism.

18. Contd..
• Risks not included in this study were -
• Inadequate cerebral protection
• Drug withdrawal
• Early CT may help in treating reversible causes
• MRI is not a specific test with aprrox 5% patients have diffusion defect
even before cardiac surgery and 45% have changes post cardiac
surgery with NO study co-relating the incidence of seizures and MRI
changes.
• MRI can be precluded in patients having EPIOCARDIAL pacing wires.

19. THANKS