Stupor in patients after cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation

The lecture is devoted to a pressing problem in cardiac surgery - stupor (torpor, delirium, amentia) which occurs in a number of cases in patients operated under extracorporeal circulation. Analyzed are etiopathogenic factors encouraging the development of postoperative encephalopathy with various types of stupor. An inflammatory hypothesis focusing on some feasible mechanisms of the above defects and pre-/intra-/post-operative risk factors is explained. Comprehensively detailed are clinical presentations of delirium, amentia and tortor. Some methods of treatment of delirium and amentia in the postoperative period, as well as prevention of somatopsychosis are also considered.