[Neurologic complications of coronary bypass surgery--a prospective study].

Neurologic, cardiologic, and dopplersonographic findings of 303 patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were evaluated in a prospective study. About 5% of the patients suffered from a prior stroke. Nearly 9% had a significant stenosis of an internal carotid artery detected by dopplersonography. Central nervous system complications occurred in 18.2% of the patients, predominantly temporary mental disturbances. Old patients and those with complicating heart failure were at higher risk for mental disorders. Approximately 3% of the patients suffered from a stroke with a permanent deficit. Half of them had a potential source of cardiogenic embolism. The risk of a complicating stroke was raised by the presence of a stenosis of a carotid artery, a heart failure, or an arrhythmia. The frequency of peripheral nervous system complications was 13.5% with temporary symptoms in about half of the cases. Brachial plexus paresis predominated with a particular risk in mammaria bypass grafting.