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

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 6, 847 - 854, 26.10.2025
https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1780950

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.

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)

Supporting Institution

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

References

  • Karaca U, Onur T, Okmen K, Terkanlloglu S, Çevik G, Ata F. Effect of various modes of mechanical ventilation in laparoscopic cholecystectomies on optic nerve sheath diameter and cognitive functions. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2021;31(7):808-813. doi:10. 1089/LAP.2020.0866
  • Zhao N, Qin R, Liu B, Zhang D. Sevoflurane versus propofol on immediate postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass: a comparative analysis. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2025;20(1):54. doi:10.1186/S13019-024-03327-0
  • Zhao A, Peng Y, Lin L, Chen L, Lin Y. Predictive value of preoperative hypersensitive C-reactive protein in the incidence of postoperative cognitive impairment in valvular disease patients: a retrospective study. J Inflamm Res. 2024;17:11729-11739. doi:10.2147/JIR.S499836
  • Borulu F, Erkut B. Comparison of the effect of pump flow type (pulsatile or non-pulsatile) on postoperative neurocognitive functions in coronary artery surgery. Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2024;39(5):e20230345. doi:10. 21470/1678-9741-2023-0345
  • Hu YN, Hsieh TH, Tsai MT, et al. Cognitive function deterioration after cardiopulmonary bypass: can intraoperative optimal cerebral regional tissue oxygen saturation predict postoperative cognitive function? J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2023;37(5):715-723. doi:10.1053/J.JVCA.2023. 01.025
  • Kaynar A, Kömürcü Ö, Bahşi E, et al. Optic nerve sheath diameter is associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing open heart surgery. BMC Anesthesiol. 2025;25(1):309. doi:10.1186/S12871-025-03194-9
  • Chen K, Wang L, Wang Q, et al. Effects of pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position on cerebral hemodynamics during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled study. Medicine (United States). 2019;98(21):e15794. doi:10.1097/MD. 0000000000015794
  • Bang YJ, Jeong H, Heo BY, et al. Effects of increased optic nerve sheath diameter on inadequate emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a prospective observational study. Diagnostics. 2021;11(12):2260. doi:10.3390/DIAGNOSTICS11122260
  • Song B, Li LP, Wang XL, Guo Y, Li J. Relationship between intracranial pressure and neurocognitive function among older adults after radical resection of rectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2024;16(10):3261-3268. doi:10.4240/WJGS.V16.I10.3261
  • Yang B, Li M, Liang J, Tang X, Chen Q. Effect of internal jugular vein catheterization on intracranial pressure and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10:1199931. doi:10.3389/FMED.2023.1199931
  • Awad H, Bai M, Ramadan ME, et al. The effect of increased intraocular pressure during steep Trendelenburg positioning in robotic prostatectomy and hysterectomy on structural and functional ocular parameters. Anesth Analg. 2020;130(4):975-982. doi:10.1213/ANE. 0000000000004547
  • Mermer A, Aydoğan E, Celep A, et al. Evaluation of the association between the optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time during cardiac surgery in newborns. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023;27(15):7058-7064. doi:10.26355/EURREV_202308_33278
  • Wakimoto M, Patrick J, Yamaguchi Y, Roth C, Corridore M, Tobias J. Optic nerve ultrasound and cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot study. Saudi J Anaesth. 2022;16(2):188-193. doi:10.4103/SJA.SJA_14_22
  • Zhang X, Medow JE, Iskandar BJ, et al. Invasive and noninvasive means of measuring intracranial pressure: a review. Physiol Meas. 2017;38(8): R143-R182. doi:10.1088/1361-6579/AA7256
  • Zhang LM, Li Y, Zhang YT, Zhang BX, Wang JZ, Zhang DX. Decrease of coronal optic nerve sheath diameter is associated with postoperative cognitive decline in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(8):2355-2362. doi:10.1053/J.JVCA. 2020.11.006
  • Chen H, Wang XT, Ding X, et al. The correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and volume status in patients after cardiac surgery. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2016;55(10):779-783. doi:10.3760/CMA.J.ISSN. 0578-1426.2016.10.011
  • Yang Q, Li C, Ye M, Zhou X, Li W, Li F. Effect of central sensitization on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in total knee arthroplasty patients: a retrospective study. Front Neurol. 2025;15:1509197. doi:10.3389/FNEUR.2024.1509197
  • Kücükdeveci AA, Kutlay S, Elhan AH, Tennant A. Preliminary study to evaluate the validity of the mini-mental state examination in a normal population in Turkey. Int J Rehabil Res. 2005;28(1):77-79. doi:10.1097/ 00004356-200503000-00011
  • Sauër AC, Veldhuijzen DS, Ottens TH, Slooter AJC, Kalkman CJ, Van Dijk D. Association between delirium and cognitive change after cardiac surgery. Br J Anaesth. 2017;119(2):308-315. doi:10.1093/BJA/AEX053
  • Van Sinderen K, Schwarte LA, Schober P. Diagnostic criteria of postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a focused systematic review. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2020;2020:7384394. doi:10.1155/2020/7384394
  • Zhao Q, Wan H, Pan H, Xu Y. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction—current research progress. Front Behav Neurosci. 2024;18:1328790. doi: 10.3389/FNBEH.2024.1328790/PDF
  • Frerichs RJ, Tuokko HA. A comparison of methods for measuring cognitive change in older adults. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2005;20(3):321-333. doi:10.1016/J.ACN.2004.08.002
  • Rahman SH, Mazlan M, Suhaimi A, Hashim NHM. Identifying postoperative cognitive dysfunction after elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery in a tertiary centre in Malaysia. Med J Malaysia. 2024;79(4):483-486.
  • Abu Yazit NA, Juliana N, Hafidz KM, et al. Exploring cognitive changes in high-risk cardiac patients receiving dexmedetomidine and evaluating the correlation between different cognitive tools: a cohort study. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2024;25(8):273. doi:10.31083/J.RCM2508273
  • Othman SMA, Aziz MAA, Sriwayyapram C, Xu Q. Systematic literature review on early detection of postoperative delirium in adult patients after cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024;19(1):1-10. doi:10.1186/S13019-024-03173-0/TABLES/4
  • Stevens RRF, Gommer ED, Aries MJH, et al. Optic nerve sheath diameter assessment by neurosonology: a review of methodologic discrepancies. J Neuroimag. 2021;31(5):814-825. doi:10.1111/JON.12906
  • Schroeder C, Katsanos AH, Richter D, Tsivgoulis G, Gold R, Krogias C. Quantification of optic nerve and sheath diameter by transorbital sonography: a systematic review and metanalysis. J Neuroimag. 2020; 30(2):165-174. doi:10.1111/JON.12691
  • Rivas-Rangel J, García-Arellano M, Marquez-Romero JM. Correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time. An Pediatr (Engl Ed). 2022;96(2):91-96. doi:10.1016/J.ANPEDE. 2021.02.002
  • Hensel A, Angermeyer MC, Riedel-Heller SG. Measuring cognitive change in older adults: reliable change indices for the Mini-Mental State Examination. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007;78(12):1298-1303. doi:10.1136/JNNP.2006.109074

Kardiyak cerrahi sonrası 8. ve 30. günlerde optik sinir kılıfı çapı ile postoperatif kognitif disfonksiyon arasında anlamlı bir ilişkinin olmaması: prospektif gözlemsel çalışma

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 6, 847 - 854, 26.10.2025
https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1780950

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, elektif kardiyopulmoner bypass ile açık kalp cerrahisi geçiren hastalarda, intrakraniyal basıncın noninvaziv bir göstergesi olan perioperatif optik sinir kılıf çapı (OSKÇ) ile postoperatif bilişsel disfonksiyon (POCD) insidansı arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmaktır. Çalışma, prospektif, gözlemsel ve tek merkezli olarak bir üçüncü basamak hastanede yürütülmüştür. Kardiyopulmoner bypass kullanılarak elektif açık kalp cerrahisi planlanan 79 yetişkin hasta çalışmaya dahil edilmiştir. Perioperatif OSKÇ ölçümleri, beş önceden tanımlanmış perioperatif zaman noktasında elde edilmiştir. Bilişsel fonksiyon, ameliyat öncesinde ve postoperatif 8. ile 30. günlerde Mini Mental Durum Değerlendirmesi (MMSE) ile değerlendirilmiştir. POCD, test-tekrar test güvenilirlik katsayısı 0,95 olan Güvenilir Değişim İndeksi (RCI) esas alınarak, MMSE skorunda klinik olarak anlamlı bir düşüş şeklinde tanımlanmıştır. RCI < –1,96 POCD varlığı olarak kabul edilmiştir. Postoperatif 8. günde 44 hastada (%55,7) POCD gelişmiş ve bu hastaların medyan yaşları, POCD gelişmeyenlere kıyasla anlamlı derecede yüksek bulunmuştur (70,0 vs. 66,0 yıl, p=0,002). Ancak 30. günde yalnızca 7 hastada (%8,9) POCD devam etmiştir. Perioperatif OSKÇ değerleri ile POCD gelişimi arasında, gerek postoperatif 8. günde gerekse 30. günde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Elektif açık kalp cerrahisi geçiren hastalarda perioperatif OSKÇ ile POCD gelişimi arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmamıştır.

Ethical Statement

Etik onay Pamukkale Üniversitesi Girişimsel Olmayan Klinik Araştırmalar Etik Kurulu’ndan alınmıştır (Onay Tarihi: 10 Eylül 2024; Protokol Numarası: E-60116787-020-579328).

Supporting Institution

Yazarlar, bu çalışmanın herhangi bir mali destek almadığını beyan etmiştir.

References

  • Karaca U, Onur T, Okmen K, Terkanlloglu S, Çevik G, Ata F. Effect of various modes of mechanical ventilation in laparoscopic cholecystectomies on optic nerve sheath diameter and cognitive functions. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2021;31(7):808-813. doi:10. 1089/LAP.2020.0866
  • Zhao N, Qin R, Liu B, Zhang D. Sevoflurane versus propofol on immediate postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass: a comparative analysis. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2025;20(1):54. doi:10.1186/S13019-024-03327-0
  • Zhao A, Peng Y, Lin L, Chen L, Lin Y. Predictive value of preoperative hypersensitive C-reactive protein in the incidence of postoperative cognitive impairment in valvular disease patients: a retrospective study. J Inflamm Res. 2024;17:11729-11739. doi:10.2147/JIR.S499836
  • Borulu F, Erkut B. Comparison of the effect of pump flow type (pulsatile or non-pulsatile) on postoperative neurocognitive functions in coronary artery surgery. Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2024;39(5):e20230345. doi:10. 21470/1678-9741-2023-0345
  • Hu YN, Hsieh TH, Tsai MT, et al. Cognitive function deterioration after cardiopulmonary bypass: can intraoperative optimal cerebral regional tissue oxygen saturation predict postoperative cognitive function? J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2023;37(5):715-723. doi:10.1053/J.JVCA.2023. 01.025
  • Kaynar A, Kömürcü Ö, Bahşi E, et al. Optic nerve sheath diameter is associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing open heart surgery. BMC Anesthesiol. 2025;25(1):309. doi:10.1186/S12871-025-03194-9
  • Chen K, Wang L, Wang Q, et al. Effects of pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position on cerebral hemodynamics during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: a randomized controlled study. Medicine (United States). 2019;98(21):e15794. doi:10.1097/MD. 0000000000015794
  • Bang YJ, Jeong H, Heo BY, et al. Effects of increased optic nerve sheath diameter on inadequate emergence from anesthesia in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: a prospective observational study. Diagnostics. 2021;11(12):2260. doi:10.3390/DIAGNOSTICS11122260
  • Song B, Li LP, Wang XL, Guo Y, Li J. Relationship between intracranial pressure and neurocognitive function among older adults after radical resection of rectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Surg. 2024;16(10):3261-3268. doi:10.4240/WJGS.V16.I10.3261
  • Yang B, Li M, Liang J, Tang X, Chen Q. Effect of internal jugular vein catheterization on intracranial pressure and postoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10:1199931. doi:10.3389/FMED.2023.1199931
  • Awad H, Bai M, Ramadan ME, et al. The effect of increased intraocular pressure during steep Trendelenburg positioning in robotic prostatectomy and hysterectomy on structural and functional ocular parameters. Anesth Analg. 2020;130(4):975-982. doi:10.1213/ANE. 0000000000004547
  • Mermer A, Aydoğan E, Celep A, et al. Evaluation of the association between the optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time during cardiac surgery in newborns. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023;27(15):7058-7064. doi:10.26355/EURREV_202308_33278
  • Wakimoto M, Patrick J, Yamaguchi Y, Roth C, Corridore M, Tobias J. Optic nerve ultrasound and cardiopulmonary bypass: a pilot study. Saudi J Anaesth. 2022;16(2):188-193. doi:10.4103/SJA.SJA_14_22
  • Zhang X, Medow JE, Iskandar BJ, et al. Invasive and noninvasive means of measuring intracranial pressure: a review. Physiol Meas. 2017;38(8): R143-R182. doi:10.1088/1361-6579/AA7256
  • Zhang LM, Li Y, Zhang YT, Zhang BX, Wang JZ, Zhang DX. Decrease of coronal optic nerve sheath diameter is associated with postoperative cognitive decline in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2021;35(8):2355-2362. doi:10.1053/J.JVCA. 2020.11.006
  • Chen H, Wang XT, Ding X, et al. The correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and volume status in patients after cardiac surgery. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi. 2016;55(10):779-783. doi:10.3760/CMA.J.ISSN. 0578-1426.2016.10.011
  • Yang Q, Li C, Ye M, Zhou X, Li W, Li F. Effect of central sensitization on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in total knee arthroplasty patients: a retrospective study. Front Neurol. 2025;15:1509197. doi:10.3389/FNEUR.2024.1509197
  • Kücükdeveci AA, Kutlay S, Elhan AH, Tennant A. Preliminary study to evaluate the validity of the mini-mental state examination in a normal population in Turkey. Int J Rehabil Res. 2005;28(1):77-79. doi:10.1097/ 00004356-200503000-00011
  • Sauër AC, Veldhuijzen DS, Ottens TH, Slooter AJC, Kalkman CJ, Van Dijk D. Association between delirium and cognitive change after cardiac surgery. Br J Anaesth. 2017;119(2):308-315. doi:10.1093/BJA/AEX053
  • Van Sinderen K, Schwarte LA, Schober P. Diagnostic criteria of postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a focused systematic review. Anesthesiol Res Pract. 2020;2020:7384394. doi:10.1155/2020/7384394
  • Zhao Q, Wan H, Pan H, Xu Y. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction—current research progress. Front Behav Neurosci. 2024;18:1328790. doi: 10.3389/FNBEH.2024.1328790/PDF
  • Frerichs RJ, Tuokko HA. A comparison of methods for measuring cognitive change in older adults. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2005;20(3):321-333. doi:10.1016/J.ACN.2004.08.002
  • Rahman SH, Mazlan M, Suhaimi A, Hashim NHM. Identifying postoperative cognitive dysfunction after elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery in a tertiary centre in Malaysia. Med J Malaysia. 2024;79(4):483-486.
  • Abu Yazit NA, Juliana N, Hafidz KM, et al. Exploring cognitive changes in high-risk cardiac patients receiving dexmedetomidine and evaluating the correlation between different cognitive tools: a cohort study. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2024;25(8):273. doi:10.31083/J.RCM2508273
  • Othman SMA, Aziz MAA, Sriwayyapram C, Xu Q. Systematic literature review on early detection of postoperative delirium in adult patients after cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2024;19(1):1-10. doi:10.1186/S13019-024-03173-0/TABLES/4
  • Stevens RRF, Gommer ED, Aries MJH, et al. Optic nerve sheath diameter assessment by neurosonology: a review of methodologic discrepancies. J Neuroimag. 2021;31(5):814-825. doi:10.1111/JON.12906
  • Schroeder C, Katsanos AH, Richter D, Tsivgoulis G, Gold R, Krogias C. Quantification of optic nerve and sheath diameter by transorbital sonography: a systematic review and metanalysis. J Neuroimag. 2020; 30(2):165-174. doi:10.1111/JON.12691
  • Rivas-Rangel J, García-Arellano M, Marquez-Romero JM. Correlation between optic nerve sheath diameter and extracorporeal life support time. An Pediatr (Engl Ed). 2022;96(2):91-96. doi:10.1016/J.ANPEDE. 2021.02.002
  • Hensel A, Angermeyer MC, Riedel-Heller SG. Measuring cognitive change in older adults: reliable change indices for the Mini-Mental State Examination. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007;78(12):1298-1303. doi:10.1136/JNNP.2006.109074
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Anaesthesiology
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Seher İlhan 0000-0002-4857-8501

İlknur Hatice Akbudak 0000-0001-9937-9169

Aslı Mete Yıldız 0000-0002-5621-7407

Turan Evran 0000-0003-4768-3622

Ali Demirtaş 0009-0004-9256-4301

Ece Tütüncüler 0009-0001-0560-4888

Edip Gönüllü 0000-0002-7751-3758

Submission Date September 9, 2025
Acceptance Date October 7, 2025
Publication Date October 26, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 7 Issue: 6

Cite

AMA 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. October 2025;7(6):847-854. doi:10.38053/acmj.1780950

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