Postoperative stroke in CABG: a ten-year study of stroke incidence and contributing risk factors in Jordan.

Stroke is a serious complication that occurs in approximately 3% of patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Neurologic dysfunction is a well-researched challenge in cardiac surgery, particularly when cardiopulmonary bypass is used. This study aimed to determine the stroke rate following CABG in a Jordanian population, based on our experience at a low-volume cardiac center. We conducted an observational descriptive study involving 446 patients who underwent CABG between January 2011 and December 2021. Stroke occurred in five patients (1.12%). Among 208 female patients, four developed stroke (1.9%), three of whom had diabetes mellitus (75%), and two had a prior history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). In contrast, only one out of 238 male patients experienced a stroke (0.4%); this patient had diabetes but had no history of TIA. The incidence of stroke in female patients was four times higher than in men. These findings suggest that improving surgical techniques, particularly in low-resource or developing settings, may contribute to reducing the risk of postoperative stroke. Strategies such as minimizing aortic manipulation during CABG while utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass could be beneficial, especially in patients with known risk factors for cerebrovascular events.