This prospective, single centre, double-blinded controlled study randomized 182 consecutive patients, scheduled for cardiac surgical procedures using cardiopulmonary bypass. Participants were randomized by concealed envelope prior to anaesthesia. NIRS study group were managed perioperatively using our NIRS protocol. The control group had standard management without NIRS. Primary outcomes were post-operative neurological impairment and hospital length-of-stay. Secondary outcomes included ventilation times, intensive care unit length-of-stay, major organ dysfunction and mortality
Cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been shown to reduce the incidence of neurological dysfunction and hospital length-of-stay in adult cardiac surgery though not all studies agree. A previous audit using cerebral saturations at or above baseline showed improved neurological and length-of-stay outcomes.