Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Association between intraoperative carotid blood flow reductions and postoperative delirium in older patients undergoing surgery: a prospective observational study
Main finding · POD per 10-min increment of CCA flow reduction >40% from baselineResult — go to the resultAdjusted odds ratio 2.24 95% CI 1.51–3.31Authors' conclusion
In older patients undergoing abdominal surgery, persistent intraoperative CCA blood flow reductions > 40% from baseline were associated with an increased risk of POD
Study context
- Population
- Patients older than 65 yr undergoing elective abdominal surgery, single tertiary care hospital, September 2021 to May 2022242 screened
- Participants
- 210 participants
- Exposure
- Duration of intraoperative common carotid artery (CCA) blood flow reduction >40% from baseline (ultrasound vector flow imaging (VFI)) and postoperative delirium (POD) risk
- Outcome
- POD (association with longer intraoperative CCA blood flow reductions >40% from baseline)
- Follow-up
- Within 7 days postoperatively
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
POD per 10-min increment of CCA flow reduction >40% from baseline
Adjusted odds ratio
2.24
95% CI 1.51–3.31
P < 0.001
Longer CCA flow reduction >40%
aOR 2.24 (95% CI 1.51–3.31); P < 0.001
Per 10-min increment, as printed
- POD incidence
- 41 (19.5%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
POD, CCA flow reductions (sensitivity analyses)
| aOR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Longer CCA flow reduction >40%Bonferroni-adjusted P | 1.78 (1.45–2.19) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | aOR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| POD, prolonged CCA blood flow increasesPer 10-min increment; Bonferroni-adjusted P | 0.58 (0.40–0.83) | P < 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted odds ratio (log scale) |
Concordance of CCA flow reductions with mean arterial pressure (MAP)-based hypotension
- Limited concordance (Cohen's κ)
- ≤ 0.08
Prediction of POD: CCA flow models vs MAP models
- Models incorporating CCA flow showed better discrimination and calibration than MAP-based models
Original publication
Association between intraoperative carotid blood flow reductions and postoperative delirium in older patients undergoing surgery: a prospective observational study. Can J Anaesth. Published 2 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →