CARDIAC SURGERY Evaluation of olfactory memory after coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract

IntroductionThis study determined whether coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery has any effect on olfactory function, employing the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT).Material and methodsAll the participants were informed preoperatively about the B-SIT test and the mode of its application. The test was performed by each patient preoperatively (d0) as well as 1 (d1) and 3 (d3) days following the surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were recorded at the same time as the smell test.ResultsThis prospective study included 45 patients. The mean age was 67 ± 7.55, and the group was 29% male. The mean durations of cross clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass were 54 ± 32 min and 62.5 ± 37.0 min, respectively. Eleven different odors were tested. Significant differences were observed for several odors: leather between d0 and d3, pine between d0 and d3, onion between d0 and d1, onion between d0 and d3, and soap between d0 and d1. The postoperative CRP levels were significantly higher than the preoperative levels. The correlation analysis determined that the postoperative CRP levels were negatively correlated with the B-SIT score (r = –0.48, p = 0.001).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that patients after CABG are prone to develop olfactory dysfunction in the early postoperative period and that olfactory dysfunction is associated with postoperative CRP levels.

Effects of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery on Olfactory and Taste Functions

“…As is known, CRP is one of the leading positive acute phase reactants, and it routinely is used in our clinic with this feature. In our previous study, we demonstrated that olfactory functions were deteriorated with CRP levels that were elevated due to inflammation, in patients who had undergone on-pump CABG [Erdem 2014]. In the present study, we confirmed that preoperative CRP values that reflect increased inflammation negatively affected olfactory functions both in the On-Pump and Off-Pump patient groups.…”

“…Also, some studies have reported that taste and smell disorders commonly are seen in patients with cardiovascular disease [Liu 2016;Seubert 2017]. Hence, in our previous study, we demonstrated that olfactory functions tended to deteriorate in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing on-pump CABG with CPB [Erdem 2014].…”

Olfactory function testing before and after anesthesia

“…Postoperative changes to olfactory function are often observed following sinonasal 7 – 12 and neurosurgery 13 – 17 , especially when changes occur in areas related to olfaction such as the olfactory bulb, cribriform plate, olfactory mucosa, or nasal septum. In the last 30 years, however, postoperative changes to olfaction have been also reported in other types of surgery, such as: cardiovascular 18 , 19 , abdominal 20 – 23 , and genito-urinary 24 – 26 .…”