Heart bypass operations or any other operation where arterial clamping is required can dislodge arterial plaque that can be carried into the brain. This blocks capilliaries in the brain and kills many small areas of brain tissue in effect by generating hundreds of micro strokes during the course of the operation.

This issue affects around 1 in 3 of cases where arterial clamping is involved and substantial levels of arterial plaque are present. Types of operation may include heart bypass surgery, knee / hip replacments etc. This problem is localised to the UK and is probably more evident in NHS cases because of reduced funding in the UK by preventing surgeons from updating their skills and in terms of the tendancy of the NHS to underfund invesntment in new technologies that enable arteries to be clamped safely. The resulting brain damage is irreversible.

If you have had an operation that resulted in e.g. increased irriatibility, memory loss, inability to concentrate, changes in mental abilities or other issues you may have been affected. Given that the damage was avoidable this presents an interesting legal position for NHS surgeons performing this type of operation. If you think that you may have been affected consult your GP / surgeon.

Ref BBC Doc's Intensive Scare.