What could happen if the posterior cerebral artery is incorrectly perfused during surgery?

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) plays a crucial role in supplying blood to specific areas of the brain, particularly the occipital lobes, which are responsible for vision, and parts of the temporal lobes, which are important for memory and understanding language. If the PCA is incorrectly perfused during surgery, it can lead to inadequate blood flow to these regions of the brain, resulting in ischemia or inadequate oxygenation. This can significantly increase the risk of a stroke, as the affected brain tissue may suffer from cell death due to lack of oxygen.

Stroke risk is heightened because improper perfusion can lead to a variety of complications including vision problems, loss of consciousness, and cognitive deficits, depending on the extent of the ischemia and which areas of the brain are affected.

In contrast, while reduced myocardial oxygenation, increased chances of renal failure, and enhanced spleen perfusion are important concerns during cardiovascular procedures, they are not directly related to the consequences of improper perfusion of the PCA. The PCA primarily influences neurological outcomes rather than systemic organ perfusion issues. Thus, the increased stroke risk directly correlates with the consequences of not perfusing the PCA adequately during surgery.