Cerebral protection by lidocaine during cardiac operations: a follow-up study.

Background: A previous study showed less postoperative neurocognitive impairment in open-chamber cardiac surgery patients given lidocaine for 48 hours after induction of anesthesia. In the present study, we aimed to test the benefit of a 12-hour infusion in a broader group of cardiac surgery patients, including those undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, intention-to-treat trial.