Neuropsychologic effects of carotid endarterectomy.
This study assessed neuropsychologic changes after internal carotid endarterectomy using a design that limited the confounding effects of surgical and anesthesiological stress. Twenty-eight patients (mean age = 65.9 years, SD = 8.4, range 45-79), underwent extensive neuropsychological assessment before and on the seventh day after carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid stenosis greater than 75%. A similarly assessed control group of 30 patients underwent elective orthopaedic surgery. A third cognitive assessment was performed 4 months postoperatively on a subgroup of the study patients. No significant cognitive change occurred in the control group. The study patients showed significant improvement in verbal memory, constructive abilities, verbal attainment, and visual attention; a trend towards further improvement of verbal functions was evident at the late postoperative assessment. No side-specific cognitive change was observed. In conclusion, carotid endarterectomy performed for currently accepted indications significantly improves several cognitive functions.
Antonelli Incalzi
R
R
Istituto di Medicina Interna e Geriatria, Roma, Italy.
Gemma
A
A
Landi
F
F
Pagano
F
F
Capparella
O
O
Snider
F
F
Manni
R
R
Carbonin
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014705:Verbal Behavior