Cerebral oximetry in adult cardiac surgery: A closer look at outcomes.

We discussed Bennett et al.’s randomised controlled trial on the use of cerebral oximetry to reduce the incidence of neurological impairment at our regional journal club, based in the North West School of Anaesthesia. 1 This study found a reduced duration of stay in intensive care and improved self-reported functional status at six months amongst 90 patients who received cerebral oximetry monitoring and protocolised interventions to maintain cerebral oxygen saturation above baseline, compared to 91 patients who received a ‘sham’ intervention (monitoring attached but not connected) for purposes. suggest that routine use of cerebral oximetry may have a role in cardiac surgery, we that the study may have been equipped to detect other important findings.