Cerebral Oximetry and Postoperative Delirium After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised, Controlled Trial

The authors conducted a double-blinded prospective, randomized clinical trial in 249 patients >60 years of age who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass to assess whether interventions based on cerebral oximetry would decrease the incidence of postoperative delirium.  Two groups were compared:  The control group, in which the results of cerebral oximetry were blinded, and the intervention group, in which an algorithm was instituted for oximetry values below 75% of baseline.  

Results:  Postop delirium occurred in 24.4%  and 24.6% of the intervention and control groups, respectively (p=0.97).  Thus, interventions based on cerebral oximetry data do not appear to alter the incidence of postop delirium.  Incidentally, a higher baseline cerebral oximetry value was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative delirium.