title: Late neurocognitive changes from neurological damage following coronary bypass surgery.
abstract: A detailed case study with neuropsychological data over a 26-year period was used to explore the relationship between neurocognitive vulnerability preoperatively and subsequent neurocognitive decline identified several years postoperatively. Guidelines regarding the importance of neuropsychological assessment of intelligence, attention, memory, language, and visual-spatial planning and organizational skills are provided. Such evaluations clarify postoperative treatment planning because rehabilitation of cardiac patients with premorbid neurocognitive deficits poses special rehabilitation problems. With a detailed neurologic history as part of the preoperative evaluation, healthcare providers can identify acute and subtle risk factors for postoperative neurologic syndromes. This may lead to interventions designed to provide increased patient and family support.
authors.affiliation: Cognitive Remediation Center, Beth-Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Woodard
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DeSilva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014888:Wechsler Scales