Korean J Anesthesiol.  2004 Dec;47(6):816-823. 10.4097/kjae.2004.47.6.816.

Cognitive Changes after Open Heart Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass

• Kim BJ
• Kim SO
• Park JW

• KMID: 2032597
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.47.6.816

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction after open heart surgery under the cardiopulmonary bypass is one of major problems in modern cardiac surgery. We designed this study to evaluate the incidence of postoperative neuropsychological changes after routine cardiac surgery with the cardiopulmonary bypass.
METHODS
We assessed the patients with four cognitive function tests on the day before, 4-5 days after and 9-10 days after cardiac surgery. The test batteries which used in this study were Trail-Making Test part A, Digit Substitution test, Digit Span Test, Grooved Pegboard test.
RESULTS
The incidence of cognitive dysfunction was 12.8-25% at postoperative 4-5 days, 2.3-11.5% at postoperative 9-10 days. About 80% of patients who showed cognitive dysfunction at postoperative 4-5 days had gained normal cognitive function score at postoperative 9-10 days.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of cognitive dysfunction after heart surgery is not low, and we must try to find how to reduce these complications.

Keyword

cardiopulmonary bypass; cognitive function tests; open heart surgery

MeSH Terms

Cardiopulmonary Bypass*
Heart*
Humans
Incidence
Thoracic Surgery*