Gorvitovskaia AY, Scrimgeour LA, Potz BA, et al. - In view of a possible correlation of cardiopulmonary bypass with postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction, researchers here examined if there is correlation between lower hematocrit levels and postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction. Cardiac operations utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass were performed on 30 patients. They assessed these patients for neurocognitive dysfunction preoperatively and on postoperative day 4. Observations revealed correlation of a lower preoperative hematocrit and prolonged length of hospital stay with neurocognitive decline after cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass. A decrease in hematocrit was observed in all patients during their hospital stay, but there was no impact of the hematocrit 6 hours postoperatively and postoperative day 4 on cognition.