Conclusion
Perioperative stroke is a devastating complication following cardiac
surgery, with an overall incidence of approximately 2%. Unfortunately,
the risk factors for stroke and cardiovascular disease significantly
overlap which have hindered efforts to predict patients at elevated risk
preoperatively. Perioperative stroke is associated with significantly
inferior outcomes in terms of both morbidity and mortality, in
particular a 28% reduction in 1-year survival. The potential to reduce
morbidity and mortality with the emergence of mechanical thrombectomy,
demonstrates the need for clear links between cardiothoracic and stroke
teams to support individuals affected by perioperative stroke