A new study has found that keeping blood pressure higher than usual during surgery does not provide extra protection for the brain. For people with high blood pressure who are undergoing non-heart-related surgeries, doctors often manage blood pressure carefully in hopes of avoiding confusion after surgery or long-term memory issues. But this large study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests that stricter control may not make a significant difference.

Researchers studied 2,603 patients who were already taking medication for high blood pressure and had a high risk of heart problems. Some patients were treated with a strategy to keep their blood pressure higher during surgery, while others followed the usual method where it was allowed to drop slightly lower. The goal was to see whether higher blood pressure helped prevent delirium (a state of confusion) in the days following surgery, or mental decline one year later.

The results showed that about 7% of patients in both groups experienced delirium after surgery. A year later, around a third of patients in both groups had a small drop in memory test scores. In simple terms, neither approach seemed to protect the brain better than the other.

The lead researcher, Dr. Maura Marcucci from the Population Health Research Institute in Canada, explained that aiming for a higher blood pressure during surgery did not lead to better outcomes for patients’ brain health.

One difference noted was that patients in the higher blood pressure group were less likely to experience dangerously low blood pressure during the operation. However, in both groups, such drops were usually handled without serious consequences.

This study provides reassurance for patients undergoing surgery who are concerned about their blood pressure. It suggests that the standard approach to managing blood pressure is safe and there’s no strong reason to aim for higher levels during surgery to protect the brain. In short, for patients already dealing with blood pressure issues, sticking to the usual method seems to be just as effective when it comes to preventing confusion or memory loss after surgery.