title: Effect of piracetam on cognitive performance in patients undergoing bypass surgery.
abstract: In this study, the protective effect of piracetam on select aspects of cognitive function in patients undergoing bypass surgery was investigated. Male patients (n = 64) with an indication for a surgical revascularization using artificial extracorporal circuits were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive a single challenge of 12-g piracetam infusion or placebo (sterile saline) prior to the bypass surgery. A brief battery of neuropsychological tests for verbal and non-verbal short-term memory and attention was administered 1 day before and 3 days after the surgical intervention. There was a significant difference in short-term memory and attention, with the piracetam-treated patients producing a better level of performance 3 days after surgery compared to the placebo group. The overall postoperative cognitive function (z-transformation of all 6 test results) was more significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in the placebo group than in the piracetam group (z = -1.19 +/- 0.72 vs. -0.46 +/- 0.58, respectively). A single challenge of 12-g piracetam infusion prior to surgical intervention might offer a short-term neuroprotective effect for patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery. Whether this effect persists for a longer period of time requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Charité, Medizinische Fakultät der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. ralf.uebelhack@charite.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Uebelhack
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vohs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zytowski
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schewe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Konertz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010889:Piracetam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010889:Piracetam