Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery associated with perioperative gut microbiota dysbiosis: Evidence from human and antibiotic-treated mouse model
Authors' conclusion
Postoperative delirium is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, marked by an increase in opportunistic pathogens and a decrease in SCFA-producing genera.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting60 matched
- Participants
- 120 patients
- Comparison
- Postoperative delirium (POD) vs non-POD patients
- Outcome
- POD
Methodological details1:1 matched, fecal microbiota transplantation into antibiotic-treated mice
- 1:1 matched
- Fecal microbiota transplantation into antibiotic-treated mice
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Perioperative gut microbiota in POD vs non-POD
- Before surgery, gut microbiota similar in both groups
- After surgery, POD patients had lower alpha diversity and distinct microbiota vs non-POD
- POD linked to increased opportunistic pathogens (Enterococcus) and decreased SCFA producers (Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, etc.) (LEfSe)
- Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) significantly reduced in POD patients, negatively correlated with delirium severity and plasma inflammation
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mouse fecal transplant model
- Mice receiving fecal transplants from POD patients exhibited delirium-like behavior and neuroinflammation
Original publication
Postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery associated with perioperative gut microbiota dysbiosis: Evidence from human and antibiotic-treated mouse model. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. Published 23 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →