Neurologic complications continue to plague aortocoronary bypass Operations. All patients
undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass procedures over a four-year period at the
Upstate Medical Center were reviewed. Eight of 893 patients sustained a cerebrovascular
accident following Operation (0.9%). In 5 patients, the etiology was felt to be calcific
and atherosclerotic debris from the ascending aorta. Air embolism occurred in one
patient, and the etiology was unknown in 2 patients. Various methods to deal with
the diffusely atherosclerotic aorta are discussed.
Coronary artery bypass - Cerebro-vascular aceident - Air emboli - Calcific aorta -
Atherosclerotic emboli
