Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers

Background: Intracardiac echocardiography guidance has emerged as a feasible alternative to transesophageal echocardiography in guiding left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). A proposed advantage of this approach is the avoidance of cognitive impairment associated with general anesthesia (GA) in el...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Agata Sularz, MB, BChir, Alejandra Chavez-Ponce, MD, Ghasaq Saleh, MD, Gurpreet Singh, MD, Bilal Unar, MD, Trevor Simard, MD, Matias Shulz, MScEng, Gerardo Fernandez, PhD, Danilo Verge, MD, MBA, Mohamad Alkhouli, MD, MBA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:JACC: Advances
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X25005150
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849226879328845824
author Agata Sularz, MB, BChir
Alejandra Chavez-Ponce, MD
Ghasaq Saleh, MD
Gurpreet Singh, MD
Bilal Unar, MD
Trevor Simard, MD
Matias Shulz, MScEng
Gerardo Fernandez, PhD
Danilo Verge, MD, MBA
Mohamad Alkhouli, MD, MBA
author_facet Agata Sularz, MB, BChir
Alejandra Chavez-Ponce, MD
Ghasaq Saleh, MD
Gurpreet Singh, MD
Bilal Unar, MD
Trevor Simard, MD
Matias Shulz, MScEng
Gerardo Fernandez, PhD
Danilo Verge, MD, MBA
Mohamad Alkhouli, MD, MBA
author_sort Agata Sularz, MB, BChir
collection DOAJ
description Background: Intracardiac echocardiography guidance has emerged as a feasible alternative to transesophageal echocardiography in guiding left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). A proposed advantage of this approach is the avoidance of cognitive impairment associated with general anesthesia (GA) in elderly patients. Objectives: We studied the effect of anesthesia method (GA vs moderate sedation [MS]) on cognitive function using a novel digital oculomotor biomarker. Methods: Patients undergoing LAAO were prospectively enrolled at 2 medical centers (GA center and MS center). Cognitive function was assessed at baseline (V1), 6 hours post-LAAO (V2), and at 45 days (V3) using the ViewMind system, which consists of a head-mounted device with eye-tracking capabilities. We examined differences in cognitive function as measured by 2 oculomotor tests (Go/No Go and N-Back), within each group between V1 vs V2 and V1 vs V3. Results: Forty patients (20 in each group: GA and MS) were enrolled. Patients in the MS group showed significant long-term (V1 vs V3) improvement in working memory (Δ n complete sequences, P = 0.005), processing speed (Δ n wrong fixations, P = 0.050), and sustained attention (gazing recognition (ms), P = 0.010), as measured by the N-Back task while there were no differences in the GA group (P = 0.180 for Δ n complete sequences, P = 0.410 for Δ n wrong fixations on hitbox, and P = 0.310 gazing recognition [msec]). Conclusions: Memory-based oculomotor metrics improved after the procedure in patients undergoing LAAO under MS but not within the GA group. This proof-of-concept study supports a differential impact of sedation strategies on cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing LAAO.
format Article
id doaj-art-8e61c13445b2413f881869643eebf8f6
institution Kabale University
issn 2772-963X
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series JACC: Advances
spelling doaj-art-8e61c13445b2413f881869643eebf8f62025-08-24T05:15:34ZengElsevierJACC: Advances2772-963X2025-09-014910209010.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102090Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor BiomarkersAgata Sularz, MB, BChir0Alejandra Chavez-Ponce, MD1Ghasaq Saleh, MD2Gurpreet Singh, MD3Bilal Unar, MD4Trevor Simard, MD5Matias Shulz, MScEng6Gerardo Fernandez, PhD7Danilo Verge, MD, MBA8Mohamad Alkhouli, MD, MBA9Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USAViewmind Inc., New York, New York, USAViewmind Inc., New York, New York, USAViewmind Inc., New York, New York, USADepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; Address for correspondence: Dr Mohamad Alkhouli, Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.Background: Intracardiac echocardiography guidance has emerged as a feasible alternative to transesophageal echocardiography in guiding left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). A proposed advantage of this approach is the avoidance of cognitive impairment associated with general anesthesia (GA) in elderly patients. Objectives: We studied the effect of anesthesia method (GA vs moderate sedation [MS]) on cognitive function using a novel digital oculomotor biomarker. Methods: Patients undergoing LAAO were prospectively enrolled at 2 medical centers (GA center and MS center). Cognitive function was assessed at baseline (V1), 6 hours post-LAAO (V2), and at 45 days (V3) using the ViewMind system, which consists of a head-mounted device with eye-tracking capabilities. We examined differences in cognitive function as measured by 2 oculomotor tests (Go/No Go and N-Back), within each group between V1 vs V2 and V1 vs V3. Results: Forty patients (20 in each group: GA and MS) were enrolled. Patients in the MS group showed significant long-term (V1 vs V3) improvement in working memory (Δ n complete sequences, P = 0.005), processing speed (Δ n wrong fixations, P = 0.050), and sustained attention (gazing recognition (ms), P = 0.010), as measured by the N-Back task while there were no differences in the GA group (P = 0.180 for Δ n complete sequences, P = 0.410 for Δ n wrong fixations on hitbox, and P = 0.310 gazing recognition [msec]). Conclusions: Memory-based oculomotor metrics improved after the procedure in patients undergoing LAAO under MS but not within the GA group. This proof-of-concept study supports a differential impact of sedation strategies on cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing LAAO.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X25005150anesthesia, cognitive assessmentleft atrial appendage occlusionpostoperative delirium
spellingShingle Agata Sularz, MB, BChir
Alejandra Chavez-Ponce, MD
Ghasaq Saleh, MD
Gurpreet Singh, MD
Bilal Unar, MD
Trevor Simard, MD
Matias Shulz, MScEng
Gerardo Fernandez, PhD
Danilo Verge, MD, MBA
Mohamad Alkhouli, MD, MBA
Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
JACC: Advances
anesthesia, cognitive assessment
left atrial appendage occlusion
postoperative delirium
title Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
title_full Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
title_fullStr Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
title_full_unstemmed Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
title_short Prospective Evaluation of the Impact of Sedation During LAAO on Cognitive Function Using Oculomotor Biomarkers
title_sort prospective evaluation of the impact of sedation during laao on cognitive function using oculomotor biomarkers
topic anesthesia, cognitive assessment
left atrial appendage occlusion
postoperative delirium
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772963X25005150
work_keys_str_mv AT agatasularzmbbchir prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT alejandrachavezponcemd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT ghasaqsalehmd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT gurpreetsinghmd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT bilalunarmd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT trevorsimardmd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT matiasshulzmsceng prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT gerardofernandezphd prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT danilovergemdmba prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers
AT mohamadalkhoulimdmba prospectiveevaluationoftheimpactofsedationduringlaaooncognitivefunctionusingoculomotorbiomarkers