Research Article

Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study

Volume: 7 Number: 6 October 26, 2025
EN TR

Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to investigate the association between perioperative optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), a noninvasive marker of intracranial pressure, and the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) on postoperative days 8 and 30 in patients undergoing elective open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods: It was designed as a prospective, observational, single-institution study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Seventy nine adult patients scheduled for elective open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass were included. Perioperative ONSD measurements were obtained at five predefined time points during the perioperative period. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) preoperatively and on the 8th and 30th postoperative days. POCD was defined as a clinically significant decline in MMSE score based on the Reliable Change Index (RCI), using a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.95. An RCI <–1.96 indicated POCD. Results: On postoperative day-8, 44 patients (55.7%) developed POCD, and these patients had a significantly higher median age compared to those without POCD (70.0 vs. 66.0 years, p=0.002). By day-30, POCD persisted in only seven patients (8.9%). Lower preoperative cognitive reserve was also significantly associated with the development of POCD (p<0.05). No significant association was found between perioperative ONSD values and POCD on either postoperative day (p>0.05). Conclusion: Perioperative ONSD was not significantly associated with the development of POCD on postoperative days 8 or 30 in patients undergoing elective open-heart surgery. Instead, preoperative cognitive reserve and older age emerged as stronger predictors of POCD, underscoring the importance of baseline cognitive assessment and patient characteristics in evaluating perioperative risk.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

Ethics approval Ethical approval was obtained from the Pamukkale University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval Date: 10 September 2024; Protocol Number: E-60116787-020-579328)

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Anaesthesiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 26, 2025

Submission Date

September 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 7, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 7 Number: 6

APA
İlhan, S., Akbudak, İ. H., Mete Yıldız, A., Evran, T., Demirtaş, A., Tütüncüler, E., & Gönüllü, E. (2025). Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 7(6), 847-854. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1780950
AMA
1.İlhan S, Akbudak İH, Mete Yıldız A, et al. Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2025;7(6):847-854. doi:10.38053/acmj.1780950
Chicago
İlhan, Seher, İlknur Hatice Akbudak, Aslı Mete Yıldız, et al. 2025. “Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 7 (6): 847-54. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1780950.
EndNote
İlhan S, Akbudak İH, Mete Yıldız A, Evran T, Demirtaş A, Tütüncüler E, Gönüllü E (October 1, 2025) Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 7 6 847–854.
IEEE
[1]S. İlhan et al., “Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 847–854, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.38053/acmj.1780950.
ISNAD
İlhan, Seher - Akbudak, İlknur Hatice - Mete Yıldız, Aslı - Evran, Turan - Demirtaş, Ali - Tütüncüler, Ece - Gönüllü, Edip. “Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 7/6 (October 1, 2025): 847-854. https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1780950.
JAMA
1.İlhan S, Akbudak İH, Mete Yıldız A, Evran T, Demirtaş A, Tütüncüler E, Gönüllü E. Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2025;7:847–854.
MLA
İlhan, Seher, et al. “Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 7, no. 6, Oct. 2025, pp. 847-54, doi:10.38053/acmj.1780950.
Vancouver
1.Seher İlhan, İlknur Hatice Akbudak, Aslı Mete Yıldız, Turan Evran, Ali Demirtaş, Ece Tütüncüler, Edip Gönüllü. Optic nerve sheath diameter and postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2025 Oct. 1;7(6):847-54. doi:10.38053/acmj.1780950

 

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