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PubMed2006

Neuronal injury after repeated brief cardiac arrests during internal cardioverter defibrillator implantation is associated with deterioration of cognitive function.

To determine the degree of neurocognitive dysfunction after placement of internal cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and its relationship to the extent of neuronal injury, we studied 42 patients undergoing ICD (n = 21) or pacemaker (PM) insertion (control patients, n = 21). The Mini Mental State Examination, the Trailmaking A test and the forward and backward Digit Span tests were used and P300 latencies were determined preoperatively and postoperatively. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was determined before and at the end of, as well as 2, 6, and 24 h after surgery. Preoperatively, PM patients scored worse in the Digit Span backward and the Trailmaking tests and showed prolonged P300 latencies. Postoperatively, the Digit Span backward scores declined and NSE levels increased only in the ICD group (P < or = 0.05). The difference between preoperative and postoperative Digit Span backward scores correlated with the increase in serum NSE levels (r2 = 0.3, P < or = 0.05). Moreover, P300 latencies increased in 13 of 17 ICD patients, but decreased in 7 of 10 PM patients (P < or = 0.05). PM patients even improved in the Trailmaking test (P < or = 0.05). Neuronal injury from even brief periods of global brain ischemia seems to be associated with deteriorating neurocognitive function.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Helping patients with localized prostate carcinoma manage uncertainty and treatment side effects: nurse-delivered psychoeducational intervention over the telephone.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of an individualized uncertainty management intervention delivered by telephone to Caucasian and African-American men with localized prostate carcinoma and directed at managing the uncertainties of their disease and treatment. METHODS: The authors delivered a psychoeducational intervention by phone to men with prostate carcinoma, with or without supplemented delivery to a close family member, that was directed at managing uncertainty and improving symptom control. One hundred thirty-four Caucasian men and 105 African-American men were assigned randomly to one of two approaches to delivering the intervention or to the control condition. Men entered the study immediately after surgical treatment or in the first 3 weeks of radiation therapy. Trained nurses delivered the intervention through weekly phone calls for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The authors found that the majority of intervention effects were from baseline to 4 months postbaseline, when treatment side effects are most intense. Both Caucasian men and African-American men who received either one of the two approaches for delivering the intervention improved in the two uncertainty management methods of cognitive reframing and problem solving. Similarly, when the intervention groups were combined, men who received the intervention also improved significantly in control of incontinence by 4 months postbaseline. Decreases in the number of treatment side effects differed by time and treatment/ ethnic group interactions as did satisfaction with sexual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first tests of a psychoeducational intervention among men with prostate carcinoma and was the first test that included a sufficient number of African-American men to test by ethnic group. Therefore, replication of these findings is advised.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

[What is the role of neuropsychological testing in the investigation and management of pharmacologically intractable partial epilepsy?].

Neuropsychological testing is an integral part of investigation and management of pharmacologically intractable epilepsy. Patients often complain of cognitive difficulties, in particular memory disturbances. A review of the literature demonstrates that correlations between subjective memory difficulties and objective memory deficits are often poor with mood correlating more consistently with subjective complaints. Nevertheless, objective memory difficulties are often found, especially in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Many factors can contribute to cognitive difficulties in patients with pharmacoresistant partial epilepsy. These include brain pathology that may be the cause or the consequence of chronic seizures (or both), physiological brain dysfunction due to epileptic activity and effects of antiepileptic medications. We review some of the abundant relevant literature. Neuropsychological evaluation is routinely used in pre-surgical evaluations of patients and cognitive dysfunction has some degree of correlation with lateralization and localization of epileptic activity, thus helping to determine a surgical strategy. The goal of seizure control is tempered with an assessment of the potential cognitive loss resulting from resective surgery. A number of studies have addressed postoperative neuropsychological findings and it is universally recognized that patients who have high levels of cognitive functioning in the areas targeted for resection (for instance verbal memory in dominant temporal lobe) show the greatest functional loss following surgery. More selective surgery probably results in some level of preservation of cognitive function.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Effect of open heart surgery on intellectual performance.

The interrelationship between postoperative psychosis, neurologic symptoms, and changes in tests of cognitive performance have been studied in a series of 60 cardiac valvular patients who underwent open heart surgery. The effects of preoperative psychological, psychiatric, and cardiologic factors on postoperative cognitive changes were analyzed. The investigation period was from five months before up to five months after the operation. There was a general trend towards improvement in intellectual performances. The psychotic group, however, still showed a persisting impairment in some visual and psychomotor tests several months after the surgery. The group with neurologic symptoms showed impairment in one visual test. Of the preoperative variables, mitral valve disease, a high level of hypochondriasis and anxiety, and poor performance in some visual and psychomotor tests predicted postoperative intellectual impairment. The results suggest two types of cerebral complications of open heart surgery. Postoperative psychosis reflects diffuse brain dysfunction manifesting itself in psychological tests long after the clinical symptoms have resolved. The presence of neurologic symptoms refers to a focal or lateralized injury. Both the neurologic and neuropsychologic findings indicate that the right hemisphere may be prone to dysfunction than the left hemisphere.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2005

Drugs of anesthesia acting on central cholinergic system may cause post-operative cognitive dysfunction and delirium.

Given the progressive and constant increase of average life expectancy, an increasing number of elderly patients undergo surgery. After surgery, elderly patients often exhibit a transient reversible state of cerebral cognitive alterations. Among these cognitive dysfunctions, a state of delirium may develop. Delirium is an aetiologically non-specific syndrome characterised by concurrent disturbances of consciousness and attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behaviour and the sleep-wake cycle. Delirium appears to occur in 10-26% of general medical patients over 65, and is frequently associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. During hospitalization, mortality rates have been estimated to be 10-26% of patients who developed post-operative delirium, and 22-76% during the following months. Over the last few decades, post-operative delirium has been associated with several pre-operative predictor factors, as well as age (50 years and older), alcohol abuse, poor cognitive and functional status, electrolyses or glucose abnormalities, and type of surgery. The uncertain pathogenesis of post-operative cognitive dysfunctions and delirium has not permitted a causal approach to developing an effective treatment. General anesthesia affects brain function at all levels, including neuronal membranes, receptors, ion channels, neurotransmitters, cerebral blood flow and metabolism. The functional equivalents of these impairments involve mood, memory, and motor function behavioural changes. These dysfunctions are much more evident in the occurrence of stress-regulating transmission and in the alteration of intra-cellular signal transduction systems. In addition, more essential cellular processes, that play an important role in neurotransmitter synthesis and release, such as intra-neuronal signal transduction and second messenger system, may be altered. Keeping in mind the functions of the central muscarinic cholinergic system and its multiple interactions with drugs of anesthesia, it seems possible to hypothesize that the inhibition of muscarinic cholinergic receptors could have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis not only of post-operative delirium but also the more complex phenomena of post-operative cognitive dysfunction.

Anesthetics, General↗
PubMed2003

Implication of aging on anesthetic drugs.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The elderly population is increasing in number each year, and more patients are presenting for anesthesia and surgery. One of the key areas for improving the care of the elderly is a better understanding of the influence of aging on drug pharmacokinetics and dynamics. RECENT FINDINGS: We now know more about the effects of risk factors on the occurrence of postoperative complications, and strategies to improve outcome after anesthesia and surgery. Two such strategies include the role of perioperative beta-adrenoceptor blockade in obtunding cardiovascular responses and myocardial ischaemia, and the provision of effective perioperative analgesia. Both topics have featured in key publications during the past year. Cognitive dysfunction following surgery occurs in about 10% of elderly patients; possible etiologies include a decline in central nervous system cholinergic function. One major disease of the elderly is Parkinson's disease, which offers challenges to the anesthesiologist both with regard to alterations of physiology and in choice of anesthetic drugs and techniques. SUMMARY: The effects of comorbidity and intercurrent medications may alter the normal anesthetic practice of the clinician's care of the elderly patient. Further studies in these key areas may lead to improved outcomes.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

The effect of zero-balanced ultrafiltration during cardiopulmonary bypass on S100b release and cognitive function.

Zero-balanced ultrafiltration (ZBUF) might reduce the systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by removing inflammatory mediators. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ZBUF on postoperative serum S100b levels, a marker of neuronal injury. In addition, the possible effects of ZBUF on postoperative neurocognitive function were assessed. Sixty patients undergoing elective coronary bypass grafting were randomly assigned either to a control group or to a protocol group in which ZBUF was performed. Serum S100b levels were measured five minutes after intubation, at the end of bypass and eight and 20 hours after arrival at the intensive care unit (ICU). Cognitive function was assessed with neuropsychological tests on the day before the operation and the sixth day after surgery. The S100b level at 20 hours after arrival at the ICU was 0.27 g/L (SD 0.16) in the control and 0.25 g/L (SD 0.12) in the group with ZBUF. There were no statistical differences at any time between the two groups. S100b was not detectable in the ultrafiltrate, indicating that these results were not obscured by washout of S100b. Thirteen patients (52%) in the control group and 14 patients (56%) in the ZBUF group showed a cognitive deficit. In conclusion, ZBUF during CPB does not decrease the release of S100b. This result is not affected by washout. ZBUF did not reduce the incidence of early neurocognitive deficits. The role of SIRS in the development of cognitive dysfunction following CPB remains to be resolved.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Perioperative changes in cerebral blood flow after cardiac surgery: influence of anemia and aging.

BACKGROUND: Stroke occurs in 2% to 5% and cognitive dysfunction occurs acutely in 60% to 80% of patients early after cardiac surgery. Both may have long-term consequences. Research into mechanisms behind these sequelae has been focused intraoperatively, although there is little reason to believe that injury is limited to this period. Aging prominently increases the incidence of these sequelae. Anemia with cardiac surgery is acute and severe, should cause an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and may impact stroke and cognitive function in this setting. To better understand changes in perioperative CBF physiology we have measured changes in CBF and the influence of anemia and aging on these changes. METHODS: Cerebral blood flow was measured using the noninvasive continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion magnetic resonance imaging method. Cerebral blood flow, mean arterial pressure, hemoglobin, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were recorded in 12 subjects before and 6 +/- 2 days after cardiac surgery. RESULTS: Cerebral blood flow increased from 44.6 +/- 15.6 mL100 g(-1)min(-1) to 64.4 +/- 20.1 mL100 g(-1)min(-1) after cardiac surgery, or 49.1% +/- 26.7%, (p < 0.0001). The absolute change in CBF (DeltaCBF) was predicted by the following regression model: DeltaCBF = -55 + 0.64(Age) + 0.53(CBF(Pre)) -3.3(DeltaHgb); R(2) = 0.81; p = 0.003, where CBF(Pre) is the baseline preoperative CBF and DeltaHgb is the change in hemoglobin from preoperative to postoperative periods. CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral blood flow increases after cardiac surgery, and anemia appears to be an important cause. Age appears also to be an important covariate, with advancing age further increasing the magnitude of this hyperemia. The interrelationship of aging and anemia, in determining perioperative changes in CBF, and potentially cerebral oxygenation, may have important implications for the understanding of perioperative stroke and cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Neuropsychological follow-up of twenty two adult patients after surgery for craniopharyngioma.

The optimal management of craniopharyngioma today remains an unconcluded debate. This prospective study examines the cognitive status and quality of life of 22 patients one year after surgery for craniopharyngioma. Pterional approach (5 left, 15 right) was used in 20 patients (90%), whereas two were operated on using a rhinoseptal approach. Neuropsychological examination was performed twelve months after the operation. For twelve patients, neuropsychological examination was performed before operation. The preoperative evaluation revealed that six patients had impaired neuropsychological testing with memory and frontal dysfunction. Four of these patients have no postoperative neuropsychological defect. After surgery, there were 5 patients in whom abnormalities could be detected on the extended psychometric assessment: two were severe (a Korsakoff's syndrome and a memory defect associated with an intellectual deterioration), and three moderate (recent memory defects with frontal dysfunction, isolated learning defects). Four patients of the 22 were not able to return to their pre-illness activity. The present evaluation emphasizes that a good quality of life and neuropsychological performance were maintained in the majority of patients. Preoperative frontal dysfunction is probably correlated to tumour location, and precisely to the interruption of the direct efferent projections from the frontal cortex to the hypothalamus. Postoperative alterations of neuropsychological function were noticed only in patients with pterional approach. These patients had a poor surgical outcome, preoperative neuropsychological defects or treatment combined with radiotherapy. The two patients who were operated on using a rhinoseptal approach had no neuropsychological deficit. But this surgical approach is best reserved for patients with smaller intrasellar tumours. Further studies are needed to evaluate the neuropsychological advantage of these different approaches.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Anterior communicating artery aneurysm paraparesis syndrome: clinical manifestations and pathologic correlates.

OBJECTIVE: Clinicopathologic evaluation of patients with lower extremity paraparesis/-plegia following rupture and repair of anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms. DESIGN: Institution-based retrospective review. SETTING: A tertiary neurologic referral center. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Seven of 101 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured ACoA aneurysms treated between January 1987 and December 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurologic status at latest follow-up examination. RESULTS: All patients presented with severe hemorrhage, poor clinical grade, and intracranial hypertension. Motor deficits developed within 7 days of aneurysm rupture and persisted for a mean duration of 39 days. Angiographic evidence of vasospasm in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) distribution was documented in all cases, and paraparesis persisted beyond the angiographic resolution of vasospasm. All patients had evidence of frontal lobe dysfunction throughout their postoperative courses, and deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary emboli were common causes of morbidity and mortality. Autopsy data supported regional microvascular ischemia within the ACA distribution as the etiology of these motor deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of vasospasm in the ACA distribution and lower extremity weakness associated with cognitive and affective impairment that resolves with time is common in patients with ACoA aneurysms. We propose that this constellation of clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings be referred to as the "ACoA aneurysm paraparesis syndrome."

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Influence of cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion temperature on neurologic and hematologic function after coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: A National Institutes of Health-sponsored trial (1994 to 1998) randomized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting that required three or more grafts to receive perfusion at either cold (20 degrees C), tepid (32 degrees C), or warm (37 degrees C) temperature. The goal of the study was to evaluate morbidity, primarily neurologic dysfunction and secondarily hematologic factors. One thousand seven hundred seventy-seven patients were screened and 291 enrolled. Neurologic function was studied by a dedicated pool of blinded neurologists. A standard test battery termed the Mathew Scale using three subscales--cognitive function, elemental skills, and disability--was used to study central nervous system function. Hematologic function was assessed in 53 of the 291 patients with measurements of postoperative fibrinolytic potential. RESULTS: All preoperative and operative data were comparable between groups. A decrease in Mathew Scale was seen in 69% of patient from before operation to immediately after operation. However, between the early postoperative study and the 1-month follow-up, 48% of patients had returned to baseline. There was no difference noted across temperature groups in any neurologic parameter of function. In all, 55% of the group were at or above their preoperative level at 1 month. Forty-nine patients suspect for cerebrovascular accident had a computed tomographic scan, but only 13 (4.5%) had a documented cerebrovascular accident (4 patients in the warm, 3 in the tepid, and 6 patients in the cold group). Fibrinolytic changes correlated with perfusion temperature documented that fibrinolysis was most active at 37 degrees C. Thus, increasing perfusate temperature increases fibrinolysis, which was associated with reoperation for bleeding in 4% warm group patients, 1% tepid, and 0% cold group patients (0.1 > p > 0.05). No other perioperative complications were temperature related. There were 4 deaths (1.4%) (1 in the warm group, 2 in the tepid group, and 1 in the cold group). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Persistent postoperative neurologic dysfunction at 1 month occurs in 36% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and is not related to a cerebrovascular accident; 2) perfusion temperature has no relationship to neurologic function after bypass; and 3) fibrinolytic activity is greatest at warm temperatures.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Bilateral contemporaneous posteroventral pallidotomy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease: neuropsychological and neurological side effects. Report of four cases and review of the literature.

The authors report the underestimated cognitive, mood, and behavioral complications in patients who have undergone bilateral contemporaneous pallidotomy, as seen in their early experience with functional neurosurgery for Parkinson's disease (PD) that is accompanied by severe motor fluctuations before pallidal stimulation. Four patients, not suffering from dementia, with advanced (Hoehn and Yahr Stages III-IV), medically untreatable PD featuring severe "on-off" fluctuations underwent bilateral contemporaneous posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP). All patients were evaluated according to the Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantations (CAPIT) protocol without positron emission tomography scans but with additional neuropsychological cognitive, mood, and behavior testing. For the first 3 to 6 months postoperatively, all patients showed a mean improvement of motor scores on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), in the best "on" (21%) and worst "off" (40%) UPDRS III motor subscale, a mean 30% improvement in the UPDRS II activities of daily living (ADL) subscore, and 60% on the UPDRS IV complications of treatment subscale. Dyskinesia disappeared almost completely, and the mean daily duration of the off time was reduced by an average of 60%. Despite these good results in the CAPIT scores, one patient experienced a partially regressive corticobulbar syndrome with dysphagia, dysarthria, and increased drooling. No emotional lability was found in this patient, but he did demonstrate severe bilateral postoperative pretarsal blepharospasm (apraxia of eyelid opening), which interfered with walking and which required treatment with high-dose subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin. No patient showed visual field defects or hemiparesis, but postoperative depression, changes in personality, behavior, and executive functions were seen in two individuals. Postoperative abulia was reported by the family of one patient, who lost his preoperative aggressiveness and drive in terms of ADL, speech, business, family life, and hobbies, and became more sleepy and fatigued. One patient reported postoperative mental automatisms, such as compulsive mental counting, and circular thoughts and reasoning during off phases; postoperative depression was found in two patients. However, none of the patients demonstrated these symptoms during intraoperative microelectrode stimulation. These findings are compatible with previous reports on bilateral pallidal lesions. A progressive lowering of UPDRS subscores was seen after 12 months, consistent with the progression of the disease. Bilateral simultaneous pallidotomy may be followed by emotional, behavioral, and cognitive deficits such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and loss of psychic autoactivation-abulia, as well as disabling corticobulbar dysfunction and apraxia of eyelid opening, in addition to previously described motor and visual field deficits, which make this surgery undesirable even though significant improvement in motor deficits can be achieved.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Deep brain stimulation: postoperative issues.

Numerous factors need to be taken into account when managing a patient with Parkinson's disease (PD) after deep brain stimulation (DBS). Questions such as when to begin programming, how to conduct a programming screen, how to assess the effects of programming, and how to titrate stimulation and medication for each of the targeted sites need to be addressed. Follow-up care should be determined, including patient adjustments of stimulation, timing of follow-up visits and telephone contact with the patient, and stimulation and medication conditions during the follow-up assessments. A management plan for problems that can arise after DBS such as weight gain, dyskinesia, axial symptoms, speech dysfunction, muscle contractions, paresthesia, eyelid, ocular and visual disturbances, and behavioral and cognitive problems should be developed. Long-term complications such as infection or erosion, loss of effect, intermittent stimulation, tolerance, and pain or discomfort can develop and need to be managed. Other factors that need consideration are social and job-related factors, development of dementia, general medical issues, and lifestyle changes. This report from the Consensus on Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease, a project commissioned by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the Movement Disorder Society, outlines answers to a series of questions developed to address all aspects of DBS postoperative management and decision-making with a systematic overview of the literature (until mid-2004) and by the expert opinion of the authors. The report has been endorsed by the Scientific Issues Committee of the Movement Disorder Society and the American Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed2006

Neurocognitive consequences of surgically corrected congenital heart defects: A review.

With advances in surgical procedures, neuropsychological assessment after congenital heart defects and pre, peri- and/or postoperative predictors of adverse outcome has become an important focus in research. We aim to summarize neuropsychological sequelae associated with different types of congenital heart defects, critically review the methodology used in more than 20 empirical studies that were retrieved from biomedical electronic search engines, and identify possible directions for future research. Despite the lack of adequate control groups and long-term studies, there seem to be some cognitive deficits. The largest group of children with isolated congenital heart defects present with normal intellectual capacities. However, they tend to show language deficits and motor dysfunction. Although performances on memory tasks are good, unambiguous conclusions concerning their attentional and executive functioning are still lacking. Serious behavioral problems are not an issue. In addition to a detailed description of the (neuro) psychological consequences of pediatric cardiac surgery, an overview of the predictors of the cognitive defects is provided.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗
PubMed2005

[Perioperative cortisol circadian secretion and neuropsychological states in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the circadian rhythm of perioperative cortisol secretion and neuropsychological states in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. METHODS: Forty male patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under hypothermic cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) or off-pump were enrolled in this study. They were allocated into CPB group or off-pump group with 20 patients in each group. Blood samples were withdrawn during surgery at specific time-points and every 3 h for 24 h in the immediate postoperative period. Plasma cortisol was measured by radioimmunoassay. All subjects were investigated preoperatively as well as 7 to 10 d and 3 months postoperatively with a comprehensive neuropsychologic assessment, while depression and anxiety were assessed by Self-Rating Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory respectively. RESULTS: During postoperative 24 h, three patients in the CPB group and 7 patients in the off-pump group were demonstrating a circadian secretion pattern, while they were disturbed in the remaining patients in both groups. Postoperative depression scores of patients in both groups were significantly higher than preoperative values. Postoperative anxiety scores of patients in the CPB group were significantly higher than those in the off-pump group. The CABG with CPB patients showed a significant deficit in the Digit Span subtest of the WAIS-R and the Stroop colour word interference test. The disturbed cortisol circadian secretion in the CPB group correlated with depression and the Stroop colour word interference test, whereas in the off-pump group it correlated with depression, Digit Span subtest (forward), symbol digit modalities test and the Stroop colour word interference test. Degree of depression correlated with some items of cognitive dysfunctions. CONCLUSION: Perioperative secretion rhythm of cortisol in patients undergoing CABG surgery with CPB or off-pump was disturbed. The disordered cortisol may correlate directly or indirectly through mood with neuropsychological deficits.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
PubMed2001

Report of the substudy assessing the impact of neurocognitive function on quality of life 5 years after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The importance of perioperative cognitive decline has long been debated. We recently demonstrated a significant correlation between perioperative cognitive decline and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Despite this association, some still question the importance of these changes in cognitive function to the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of our investigation was to determine the association between cognitive dysfunction and long-term quality of life after cardiac surgery. METHODS: After institutional review board approval and patient informed consent, 261 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled and followed for 5 years. Cognitive function was measured with a battery of tests at baseline, discharge, and 6 weeks and 5 years postoperatively. Quality of life was assessed with well-validated, standardized assessments at the 5-year end point. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate significant correlations between cognitive function and quality of life in patients after cardiac surgery. Lower 5-year overall cognitive function scores were associated with lower general health and a less productive working status. Multivariable logistic and linear regression controlling for age, sex, education, and diabetes confirmed this strong association in the majority of areas of quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after cardiac surgery, there is a strong relationship between neurocognitive functioning and quality of life. This has important social and financial implications for preoperative evaluation and postoperative care of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1995

The predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid dynamic tests in patients with th idiopathic adult hydrocephalus syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test and CSF outflow conductance in the selection of patients with the idiopathic adult hydrocephalus syndrome, defined exclusively on a clinical basis, for shunt surgery. DESIGN: A prospective, consecutive case series. All patients were assessed before surgery and at 3 months after shunt placement. Preoperatively, CSF pressure, conductance, and CSF formation rate were assessed by a constant-pressure infusion method. Improvement in gait and cognitive functions after removal of CSF was noted (ie, with the CSF tap test). Postoperatively, the infusion method was used to evaluate shunt function. SETTING: Tertiary, academic referral center. PATIENTS: Thirty-five patients with idiopathic adult hydrocephalus (normal-pressure hydrocephalus) syndrome based on conservative clinical criteria. No predictive tests were used for inclusion. All patients had a typical gait disturbance and a communicating hydrocephalus. Twenty-eight patients also had dementia or incontinence, or both. INTERVENTION: The CSF diversion (Cordis, [Orbis-Sigma]) valve, six patients; Hakim's standard system (Cordis Hakim standard system), 29 patients. OUTCOMES OF SURGERY: Serial videotaping of gait, a comprehensive neuropsychologic battery, and the Bartel index of activities of daily life. RESULTS: Gait was improved in 25 (72%) of the 35 patients, whereas the Bartel index remained unchanged. The conditions of five of seven patients with gait disturbance as the sole symptom improved. The spatial function (37% improved) and the findings from the Fuld object memory tests (29% improved) were significantly improved. Shunt dysfunction could not explain the lack of effect of an operation in the remaining patients. It should be noted that these results obtained at 3 months postoperatively may not be applicable in a long-term perspective. The CSF outflow conductance or CSF tap test were not able to identify those patients who would or would not benefit from a CSF diversion procedure. However patients had a lower conductance and a higher CSF pressure than did control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable improvement in gait was seen, but cognitive function was little affected. The CSF tap test or conductance does not provide additional information that is necessary to distinguish between patients whose conditions will or will not respond to shunting, when selection for surgery is based on conservative clinical criteria.

Activities of Daily Living↗