Continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation of internal jugular vein as a useful indicator for selective cerebral perfusion during aortic arch replacement

Cerebral Perfusion and Brain Oxygen Saturation Monitoring with: Jugular Venous Oxygen Saturation, Cerebral Oximetry, and Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography

Accumulating evidence indicates that cerebral desaturation in the perioperative period occurs more frequently than recognized. Combining monitoring modalities that reflect different aspects of cerebral perfusion status, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, jugular bulb saturation, and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, may provide an extended window for prevention, early detection, and prompt intervention in ongoing hypoxic/ischemic neuronal injury and, thereby, improve neurologic outcome. Such an approach would minimize the impact of limitations of each monitoring modality, while individual components complement each other, enhancing the accuracy of acquired information. Current literature has failed to demonstrate any clear-cut clinical benefit of these modalities on outcome prognosis.

MR susceptometry for measuring global brain oxygen extraction

Monitoring of oxygen saturation in jugular venous blood gives an estimate of the balance of global oxygen delivery and cerebral oxygen consumption. We present a noninvasive approach to measure oxygen saturation in vivo in the internal jugular vein using MR susceptometry by exploiting the characteristic susceptibility of deoxyhemoglobin, and demonstrate the feasibility of performing such measurements in a group of subjects. We assessed the sensitivity of the method for detecting small changes in oxygen saturation by monitoring the variations observed during breath-holding and hypoventilation experiments. Unlike alternative methods, the susceptometric technique does not require calibration.

Monitoring of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion using near infrared spectroscopy in neonatal aortic arch surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To prevent neurological complications, low-flow antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) is used during repair of complex congenital heart defects. To overcome technical problems, continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation is mandatory. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different ACP flow rates on cerebral oxygen saturation obtained by near infrared spectroscopy.

METHODS

Ten consecutive neonates undergoing Norwood stage I were included. In addition to near infrared spectroscopy (Invos 5100; Somanetics Corp., USA) on both hemispheres, mean arterial pressure and transcranial Doppler flow velocity were measured continuously and arterial and jugular venous oxygen saturation intermittently. Cerebral oxygen extraction ratio was calculated. Measurement points were obtained after starting bypass, during ACP with flow rates of 30, 20 and 10 mL kg(-1) min(-1) and immediately after ACP. ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test were used for statistics.

RESULTS

The near infrared spectroscopy signal could be obtained in all children at all measurement points, whereas transcranial Doppler failed in 1 neonate at a flow rate of 30 mL kg(-1)min(-1), in 3 neonates at 20 mL kg(-1) min(-1) and in 4 neonates at 10 mL kg(-1)min(-1). With the reduction of flow there was a significant decrease of cerebral oxygen saturation on both hemispheres (right: 78+/-8 to 72+/-9 and 66+/-8, P < 0.001; left: 71+/-7 to 65+/-7 and 60+/-7, P < 0.001), of jugular venous oxygen saturation (94+/-6 to 89+/-13 and 83+/-15, P < 0.001) and a significant increase in oxygen extraction ratio (9.1+/-8 to 14.8+/-14 and 21+/-16, P < 0.001) respectively, for 30, 20, 10 mL kg(-1)min(-1).

CONCLUSION

Near infrared spectroscopy reliably detects flow alterations during ACP with profound hypothermia.

Changes in cerebral oxygenation during cold (28 degrees C) and warm (34 degrees C) cardiopulmonary bypass using different blood gas strategies (alpha-stat and pH-stat) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

BACKGROUND

Impaired cerebral oxygenation, which is reflected by measuring jugular bulb oxygenation, is thought to play an important role in the development of neurological injury after cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The effects of cardiopulmonary temperature and blood gas strategy on cerebral oxygenation are not fully appreciated.

METHODS

Sixty patients were randomly allocated into four equal groups (cold alpha-stat, cold pH-stat, warm alpha-stat and warm pH-stat) to compare the effect of these perfusion strategies on cerebral oxygenation monitored by jugular bulb oximetry [jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO(2)) and arterial-jugular bulb oxygen content difference (AjDO(2))]. Jugular bulb oxygen saturation and AjDO(2) were measured before CPB, after 5, 20, 40 min on CPB, at start and end of rewarming, 5 min before the end of CPB and 10 min after CPB. Two-way analysis of variance was used to model the lowest SjO(2) and highest AjDO(2) during CPB, with CPB temperature and blood gas management as contributing factors.

RESULTS

Significant changes in SjO(2) were only related to the type of blood gas management, with no significant difference between warm and cold CPB patients. In addition, during rewarming, desaturation (SjO(2) </= 50%) occurred in seven patients of 30 in the alpha-stat groups and in one patient of 30 in the pH-stat groups (P = 0.021), and in five patients of 30 in the cold groups vs. three of 30 in the warm groups (P = 0.434). However, no significant changes were found in the highest AjDO(2) between the four groups.

CONCLUSION

Cold CPB failed to offer any further brain protection in terms of better preservation of cerebral oxygenation than warm CPB. Therefore, warm CPB (34 degrees C) with different blood gas strategies appears to be a satisfactory alternative to cold CPB (28 degrees C).

Real-time cerebral monitoring using multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy in total arch replacement

Multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could detect change in the regional cerebral oxygenation by following animated pictures of oxy-hemoglobin (OxyHb), deoxy-hemoglobin (DeoxyHb) and total hemoglobin in operations for three surgical cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). Simultaneously measured jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjO2) showed no change in parallel to OxyHb or DeoxyHb of NIRS. It was concluded that SjO2 represented the entire rather than the local findings of the cerebral oxidative metabolism. Assessment of the intra cranial oxidative metabolism using a multichannel NIRS provided real-time information about the efficacy of SCP, while SjO2 had a comprehensive limited value. The animation enabled the detection of regional hypoperfusion visually and instantly during SCP. This multichannel NIRS was a new real-time monitoring method and was useful to prevent cerebral neurological complication due to hypoperfusion during SCP.

Near infrared spectrophotometry reflects cerebral metabolism during hypothermic circulatory arrest in adults

Near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS) is assumed to reflect cerebral oxygenation during hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA). However, the rationale for the use of NIRS as a marker of cerebral metabolism remains to be elucidated. We examined whether cerebral oxygenation measured by NIRS correlated with cerebral metabolic function assessed by cerebral oxygen extraction ratio (OER) during HCA in adults. NIRS was continuously monitored in 14 patients undergoing thoracic aortic surgery using HCA (17.9 +/- 2.9 degrees C esophageal temperature at HCA onset). Jugular venous oxygen saturation and OER were also monitored. OER was significantly reduced from 37.3 +/- 7.2% at the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass to 13.6 +/- 6.2% at the onset of HCA (p < 0.0001). A linear decrease in oxygenated-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and increase in deoxygenated-hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) were found during HCA, which returned to baseline levels after rewarming. The rate of decrease in oxy-Hb and increase in deoxy-Hb were -0.63 +/- 0.45 and 0.51 +/- 0.30 (10(-5) OD/cm per sec), respectively, both of which significantly correlated with OER at the onset of HCA (R2=0.739 and 0.633; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0007, respectively). NIRS may serve as a reliable diagnostic modality for monitoring cerebral metabolism during aortic surgery using HCA.

Changes in jugular bulb oxygenation in patients undergoing warm coronary artery bypass surgery (34-37 degrees C)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Imbalance between cerebral oxygen supply and demand is thought to play an important role in the development of cerebral injury during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

We studied jugular bulb oxygen saturation, jugular bulb oxygen tension, arterial-jugular bulb oxygen content difference and oxygen extraction ratio in 20 patients undergoing warm coronary artery bypass surgery (34-37 degrees C) with pH-stat blood gas management.

RESULTS

Only two patients showed desaturation (jugular bulb oxygen saturation < 50%) at 5 min on bypass, and none from 20 min onwards. Multiple regression models were performed after using bypass temperature, mean arterial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, haemoglobin concentration and arterial carbon dioxide tension as independent variables, and arterial-jugular bulb oxygen content difference, jugular bulb oxygen saturation, oxygen extraction ratio and jugular bulb oxygen tension as individual dependent variables.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that jugular bulb oxygen saturation, jugular bulb oxygen tension and oxygen extraction ratio are mainly dependent on arterial carbon dioxide tension, and arterial-jugular bulb oxygen content difference is dependent on arterial carbon dioxide tension and the bypass temperature. Our results suggest jugular bulb oxygenation is mainly dependent on arterial carbon dioxide tension during warm cardiopulmonary bypass.

Jugular bulb oximetry during cardiac surgery

Imbalance between cerebral oxygen supply and demand is thought to play an important role in the development of cerebral injury during cardiac surgery. This article presents an overview of cerebral oxygenation monitored by jugular bulb oximetry during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The general principles of jugular bulb oximetry including physiology, intermittent and continuous monitoring, technical considerations, limitations and potential complications are discussed. Different applications of jugular bulb oximetry during bypass surgery and the possible therapeutic approaches to impaired cerebral oxygenation are described.

Selective Cerebral Perfusion Via Innominate Artery in Aortic Arch Replacement Without Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

To attain satisfactory results in aortic arch surgery a reliable method of cerebral protection, avoidance of emboli, and control of hemorrhage is mandatory. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is the most common technique at present but gives only a limited period of protection, whereas a complicated aortic arch operation may require more time than anticipated. Therefore the selective cannulation and perfusion of the innominate artery has not been widely used until now because it is uncertain whether the left hemisphere of the brain is adequately perfused. Between 1990 and 1995, 21 of 69 patients within the last 36 months, consisting of 15 men and 6 women averaging 45 +/- 13.4 years, underwent operative treatment for aneurysm (n = 9) or type A dissection (n = 12) involving the aortic valve and aortic arch; selective innominate perfusion (SCP [i]) in moderate hypothermia (28 degreesC) for brain protection was used. Extended perioperative monitoring included bilateral somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEP), transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD), a computer-aided topographical electro-encephalometry (CATEEM), and analysis of the arterial and venous oxygen saturation and desaturation. Mean time periods were 229.7 +/- 56.5 minutes for extracorporeal circulation, 151.7 +/- 34.1 minutes for aortic cross-clamping, and 67.05 +/- 34.03 for selective cerebral perfusion via the innominate artery. Not once did the intraoperative monitoring reveal hints of cerebral damage due to inadequate perfusion. All patients survived surgery but two could not be weaned from the respirator; one died 2 days and the other 6 days after the operation due to multiple organ failure (MOF). Another two patients died after 13 days due to untreatable septic syndrome with pulmonary insufficiency. All four patients died within 30 days, during which time they had aortic dissection involving the complete aortic arch and severe aortic valvular incompetence (grade IV). There was no late death and follow-up time of 19.76 +/- 8.04 months revealed an overall mortality rate of 19%. Only temporary neurological affections (left-sided hemiparesis) were found in two patients (9.5%). Additionally, we observed neuropsychological disturbances in one of these. Our first experience with selective cerebral perfusion via innominate artery and the attendant CATEEM monitoring for assessment of adequate bilateral cerebral perfusion suggests that this method is a useful addition to the armamentarium in complicated aortic arch surgery.

Cerebral oxygenation during paediatric cardiac surgery: identification of vulnerable periods using near infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE

Neurologic sequelae remain a well recognised complication of paediatric cardiac surgery. Monitoring of cerebral oxygenation may be a useful technique for identifying vulnerable periods for the development of neurologic injury. We sought to measure regional cerebral oxygenation in children undergoing cardiac surgery using near infrared spectroscopy to ascertain such vulnerable periods.

METHODS

Observational study of 18 children (median age 1.3 years) undergoing cardiac surgery (17 with cardiopulmonary bypass, 8 with circulatory arrest). Regional cerebral oxygenation was monitored using the INVOS 3100 cerebral oximeter and related to haemodynamic parameters at each stage of the procedure.

RESULTS

Prior to the onset of bypass, 10 patients had a decrease in regional cerebral oxygenation of > or = 15% points, reaching an absolute haemoglobin saturation less than 35% in 5 cases. The most common cause was handling and dissection around the heart prior to and during caval cannulation. With institution of bypass, regional cerebral oxygenation increased by a mean 18% points to a mean maximum of 75%. During circulatory arrest regional cerebral oxygenation decreased with rate of decay influenced by temperature at onset of arrest (0.25%/min at < 20 degrees C; 2%/min at > 20 degrees C). Reperfusion caused an immediate increase in regional cerebral oxygenation followed by a decrease during rewarming. Discontinuation of bypass caused a precipitous decrease in regional cerebral oxygenation in 5 patients, reaching less than 50% in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that the pre- and early post-bypass periods are vulnerable times for provision of adequate cerebral oxygenation. Near infrared spectroscopy is a promising tool for monitoring O2 supply/demand relationships especially during circulatory arrest.

Potential problems with simplified selective cerebral perfusion--experimental investigations and clinical improvements

Currently the most used perfusion techniques during aortic arch surgery to prevent cerebral damage include hypothermic circulatory arrest, retrograde cerebral perfusion and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP). The application of simplified SCP, which does not require deep hypothermia, has become an alternative procedure for brain protection. Including the physiological principle of autoregulated cerebral blood flow, cerebral perfusion flow is not predetermined, but differentiated from the different cannula sizes for the lower and upper body perfusion. In a mock circulation loop, we could show that resistance changes in the two compartments led to flow shifts between the systemic and brachiocephalic regions. In addition to mechanical factors cerebral perfusion is determined from physiological changes. In practice, these shifts can be initiated with disrupted autoregulation due to ph-stat management or dramatic pressure changes. To prevent mismatched cerebral perfusion extended perioperative monitoring was included in our clinical setting. With bilateral somatosensory evoked potentials, a computer aided topographical electroencephalometry system, transcranial doppler-sonography and jugular venous bulb saturation, we could provide a sufficient bihemispheric perfusion. Between 1990 and 1995 we operated on 21 patients using SCP. Intraoperatively no signs of cerebral ischaemia due to inadequate perfusion could be observed. Only temporary neurological changes were found postoperatively. In summary, the simplified SCP, despite its physiological basis, is intricately involved in control and influence. We think that the application of SCP is safe if extended neurophysiological monitoring is included in the clinical setting.

Intraoperative data acquisition for the study of cerebral dysfunction following cardiopulmonary bypass

As a first step in our study to document postoperative cerebral dysfunction, and to determine whether global cerebral blood flow can be implicated in the etiology of this postoperative change, we have assembled a flexible data acquisition system to acquire and record data from four independent sources, three in digital form and one analog. Each of the monitors that we use has a different requirement: One has eight channels of analog output; the other three have RS-232 digital outputs, each with a data stream with different characteristics. The central element of our data collection is a personal computer running the data acquisition and analysis program, LabVIEW for Windows (National Instruments, Austin, TX). All data are processed through separate LabVIEW global variables; the data strings are concatenated and stored on the hard disk in a spreadsheet format for further analysis. We illustrate an intraoperative recording made during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by showing a graph of the mean arterial pressure (MAP), mixed venous oxyhemoglobin saturation recorded from the jugular bulb (JVO2Sat), and temperature measured from the nasopharynx. A decrease in the MAP after unclamping the aorta is accompanied by a decrease in JVO2Sat.

Detection of cerebral hypoperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. Continuous measurement of cerebral venous oxyhaemoglobin saturation during myocardial revascularisation

We measured continuously cerebral venous oxyhaemoglobin saturation (SjvO2) using a 4F fibreoptic catheter in 11 patients scheduled for elective myocardial revascularisation. The aims of this study were to assess the Oximetrix 3 computer and Opticath 40 cm catheter during moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, and identify epochs of cerebral hypoperfusion (SjvO2 < 54%). Radial artery pressure, brain electrical activity, arterial and cerebral venous oximetry (dual oximetry), end-tidal CO2 and nasopharyngeal temperature were recorded continuously in each patient. Following in vivo calibration of 11 continuous SjvO2 catheters and monitor, 57 simultaneous, paired recordings were additionally taken. The mean difference between the catheter SjvO2 and the in vitro laboratory derived value was 0.34%, with a 95% confidence interval -3.2% to 2.4%. In 10 patients SjvO2 decreased below normal at rewarming and myocardial reperfusion: mean lowest value 37%, range 19%-55%. Reduced SjvO2 were associated with a decrease in perfusion pressure (r = 0.292, 80 DF, p = 7.7* 10(-3)), and with an increase in nasopharyngeal temperature (r = -0.46, 115 DF, p = 2.7* 10(-7)) after moderate hypothermia. The Oximetrix 3 computer and Opticath 40 cm catheter provided reliable and accurate continuous monitoring of SjvO2 during nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass involving hypothermia with haemodilution and identified rewarming as the period of greatest risk of global cerebral hypoperfusion.

Aortic arch aneurysm repair using selective cerebral perfusion

Seventy-seven patients underwent aortic arch aneurysm repair using selective cerebral perfusion from January 1987 to August 1992. Early and long-term results and preoperative and postoperative cerebral function were evaluated. Cerebral function was assessed by the mini mental state-Himeji test and the Wechsler adult intelligence scale. Thirty-six patients had true aneurysms, and 41 had dissection. Hospital mortality for true and dissecting aneurysms was 19.4% and 7.3%, respectively. The 5-year actuarial survival rates for true and dissecting aneurysms were 59.0% and 65.3%, respectively (not significant). There were no significant differences in test scores before or after operation. Repair or replacement of the aortic arch using selective cerebral perfusion is a safe procedure with acceptable hospital mortality.

Replacement of the entire thoracic aorta in a single stage

Aneurysms of the entire thoracic aorta are usually approached in two to three stages. From 1990 to 1992, we performed one-stage aortic replacement from the root to the diaphragm in 12 patients (7 men, 5 women; median age, 51 years; range, 49 to 73 years). There were 9 type A dissections, 5 of which were acute. Five patients underwent aortic valve reconstruction, and 5 had aortic root replacement by Bentall or Cabrol techniques. In 2 patients the innominate artery had to be replaced by a vascular graft separately, in addition to reimplantation of the supraaortic branches as an island flap into the arch prosthesis. In 5 patients a mid-sternotomy was used; in 7 a bilateral transverse thoracotomy. The procedure was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in all cases (median, 45 minutes). Two patients, both operated on for an acute dissection, died perioperatively: 1 due to a bronchopneumonia, 1 because of a thrombosed Cabrol graft to the right coronary artery. No bleeding or neurologic complications developed. At a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 1 to 33 months), all patients discharged from the hospital were still alive. Four patients underwent subsequent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. This experience suggests that complete thoracic aortic replacement can be performed in a single session, with an operative risk comparable with that of the conventional two-stage approach. The bilateral transverse thoracotomy affords an excellent exposure. The lack of spinal cord ischemia may be the result of spinal cord protection with hypothermic circulatory arrest and the open clamp technique.