Neuropsychological alterations after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate neuropsychological dysfunction in patients following elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Siriraj Hospital.


METHODS
One hundred and ten patients who were scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were included in this study. We used the Thai Mental State Examination (TMSE) in order to detectthe presence of cognitive impairment aftercoronary artery bypass graft surgery. The examinations were conducted on two consecutive occasions; first preoperatively, the day before surgery, secondly on the third - fifth postoperative day. The patients' clinical characteristics were assessed perioperatively.


RESULTS
The overall occurrence of neuropsychological deficit was 18.18 per cent. Predictors of neuropsychological dysfunction were older age and preexisting disease such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and renal insufficiency. Other risk factors such as gender, history of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, dysrhythmia, cardiopulmonary bypass time, hemoglobin during cardiopulmonary bypass <7 g/dl, hemoglobin on admission to surgical cardiac care unit <10 g/dl, and atrial fibrillation arising after surgery were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuropsychological impairments after coronary artery bypass graft surgery are relatively common. This study did not find an increased incidence with respect to gender as other studies have done. However, long-term follow-up of these patients would be very valuable.
Suksompong
Sirilak
S
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Prakanratrana
Ungkab
U
Chumpathong
Saowapark
S
Sriyoschati
Somchai
S
Pornvilawan
Samphant
S
D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors