Statistical and conceptual issues in defining post-operative cognitive dysfunction.
The occurrence of post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a distressing complication following surgery. In an effort to gain a more complete understanding of patients' cognitive recovery following surgical procedures common neuropsychological assessment tools have been adopted in a repeated measures design. It is widely regarded that this represents the most comprehensive method of determining cognitive status in this population but it has resulted in a number of statistical and conceptual difficulties in attempting to infer significant change. The current paper outlines these core difficulties and provides some potential methods to overcome these.
Centre for Anaesthesia and Cognitive Function, Department of Anaesthesia, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Parade, Melbourne, Vic. 3065, Australia. m.lewis@latrobe.edu.au
Matthew
M
Lewis
Paul
P
Maruff
Brendan
B
Silbert
D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*