Silent Brain Infarction

the purpose of the study is to investigate whether a combined anesthetic targets bundle, known as the NeuroFirst strategy, focused on neurological protection, can reduce the incidence of silent brain infarction (SBI) and perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Additionally, the trial will assess the safety of this strategy. The NeuroFirst target bundle incorporates multiple parameters, including mean arterial pressure (MAP), bispectral index (BIS), regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2), and arterial inflow temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass. The primary question this study seeks to answer is: Does the NeuroFirst strategy reduce the incidence of SBI and PND in cardiac surgery? To address this, researchers will compare the NeuroFirst strategy with routine institutional practices based on published guidelines. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the NeuroFirst group or the routine care group. All participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), be assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and be followed for up to one year postoperatively.

The CBI registry is a prospective, interdisciplinary, multimodal observational registry of patients with covert brain infarction. Methods: A standardized workup in analogy to manifest ischemic stroke including cerebral MRI, long-term rhythm monitoring (3 x 7 days ECG), echocardiography, laboratory work-up and risk factor assessment as well as noninvasive angiography of the cervical and intracranial arteries will be performed.