Table 3.

Primary End Point Definitions

Study	Primary End Point Definition
Calafiore11	Cerebrovascular accident was defined as global or focal neurologic deficit that could be evident after emergence from anesthesia (early CVA) or after first awaking without any neurologic deficits (delayed CVA). CVA was diagnosed by a neurologist and confirmed by a brain CT scan or nuclear MRI.
Emmert12	Stroke was defined as a new neurologic deficit that appears and remains at least partially evident for more than 24 h after its onset and occurs during or after the CABG procedure; moreover, strokes needed to be diagnosed before discharge. Other than by clinical symptoms, diagnosis was confirmed by a neurologist and brain imaging. Transient ischemic attacks, intellectual impairment, confusion, or irritation were excluded.
Kapetanakis13	New CVA was defined as a postoperatively occurring new focal neurologic deficit, persisting for longer than 72 h after onset, diagnosed by clinical findings, confirmed by a neurologist or brain imaging (head CT or MRI), and noted before discharge or death. Transient neurologic events, intellectual impairment, and confusional or irritable states were not included.
Kim14	Stroke was defined as a new and sudden onset of neurologic deficits lasting more than 24 h with no apparent nonvascular causes.
Leacche15	Stroke was defined as the development of a new focal neurologic deficit confirmed by clinical findings and CT scan.
Lev‐Ran16	Major neurologic complications were defined as any global or focal neurologic deficit that was evident after emergence from anesthesia. All neurologic events were evaluated by a neurologist and further assessed by CT scan.
Manabe17	Stroke was suspected from any new global or focal neurological deficit and was confirmed by CT or MRI. It was diagnosed definitively by an attending neurologist. Reversible cerebral ischemic events were not considered as stroke.
Matsuura18	Neurological event was defined by neurologists and radiologists as a neurological deficit confirmed by brain MRI or CT findings.
Misfeld19	Neurological complications were defined as focal or global neurological deficits that were evident after emergence from anesthesia and diagnosed by a neurologist and confirmed by CT or MRI. Neurological complications also included any deterioration of a previous neurological deficit that was diagnosed preoperatively.
Moss20	Stroke was defined as any confirmed neurologic deficit of abrupt onset caused by a disturbance in blood supply to the brain that did not resolve within 24 h.
Patel21	Focal neurologic deficit was defined as a new focal neurologic deficit or a comatose state occurring postoperatively that persisted for more than 24 h after onset and was noted before discharge or death. Transient neurologic events, confusional states, or intellectual impairment were not included.
Pawlaczyk22	Focal neurologic deficit was defined as a new focal neurologic deficit, which was assessed by attending neurologist and confirmed by CT.
Vallely23	Neurological complications were defined as a new global or focal neurological deficit that was evident after the operation and categorized as either permanent or reversible. Permanent stroke was defined as a new central neurological deficit that persisted for more than 72 h. A transient neurological deficit was defined as a new central neurological deficit that had resolved completely within 72 h.
Biancari24	Not defined; transient ischemic attack excluded.
Boova25	Not defined; 3 patients sustained permanent neurologic deficits.
El‐Zayat26	Not defined.
Kempfert27	Stroke was defined as prolonged (>72 h) or permanent neurologic deficit that was usually associated with abnormal results of MRI or CT scans43
Skjelland28	Not defined; one patient experienced perioperative cardiac arrest and postoperative tamponade. This patient had cognitive impairment with reduced memory and impaired orientation for time and situation on clinical neurologic evaluation 3 months postoperatively.

CABG indicates coronary artery bypass grafting; CT, computed tomography; CVA; cerebrovascular accident; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.