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About

Darrin Payne’s research sits at the critical intersection of cardiac surgery and neurology, where he investigates how coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) affects the brain. His work is pioneering a more rigorous, quantitative approach to measuring post-operative neurological dysfunction—moving beyond subjective assessments to objective, reproducible metrics. His most cited study (9 citations) established that quantified pre-operative neurological deficits can reliably predict poor outcomes after CABG, a finding with direct clinical implications for patient risk stratification. Payne also explores the role of cerebral oximetry, examining whether regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO₂) levels are linked to acute cognitive decline. His feasibility study (2 citations) laid the groundwork for understanding this relationship, while his detailed protocol (4 citations) outlines a roadmap for larger, definitive trials. By systematically quantifying the “invisible” neurological toll of heart surgery, Payne is helping to identify high-risk patients and uncover mechanisms of brain injury, ultimately aiming to improve both cardiac and cognitive recovery. His work is essential reading for clinicians and researchers seeking to make heart surgery safer for the brain.