protective effect of magnesium on the neurocognitive function in hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion for aortic arch surgery

ABSTRACT

Background: Neuropsychological dysfunction is a major complication of thoracic aortic surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest [HCA]. Magnesium has been shown to have neuroprotectant effect in acute stroke and in short term neurological dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass. We sought to study the effect of magnesium on the neuropsychological function after HCA for aortic arch surgery using retrograde cerebral perfusion [RCP]