A comparison of neuropsychologic deficits after extracardiac and intracardiac surgery

Marie J. Andrew, Robert A. Baker*, Jayme Bennetts, Anthony C. Kneebone, John L. Knight

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To compare the incidence of neuropsychologic deficits 1 week and 6 months after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (extracardiac) and valve surgery with or without CABG surgery (intracardiac) using reliable change indices to define the incidence of neuropsychologic deficits. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Cardiac surgical unit in a university teaching hospital. Participants: Patients scheduled for elective multiple-graft (≥3 grafts) CABG surgery (n = 59), or elective valve surgery (with or without concomitant CABG surgery) (n = 50) and a matched sample of nonsurgical controls (n = 53). Interventions: Neuropsychologic assessments were performed 1 day before surgery, 7 days and 6 months after surgery. Measurements and Main Results: The 7-day assessment showed no significant differences between valve surgery patients and CABG surgery patients in the incidence of neuropsychologic deficits. When reassessed 6 months postoperatively, the valve group displayed a significantly higher incidence of deficits on the digit symbol test compared with the CABG group (valve 26.7% v CABG 6.8%). In the CABG group, there was a significant change in the incidence of deficits per patient from 7 days to 6 months (p = 0.03) that was not evident in the valve group. Conclusion: There are some differences in the neuropsychologic outcome of extracardiac and intracardiac surgery. Patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery showed a greater reduction in the incidence of persisting deficits at 6 months than patients undergoing valve surgery with or without CABG surgery. This finding warrants further investigation, with particular attention to patients undergoing combined valve and coronary artery procedures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9-14
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Extracardiac surgery
  • Intracardiac surgery
  • Neuropsychologic deficits

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