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.
Lewis
Matthew
M
Centre for Anaesthesia and Cognitive Function, Department of Anaesthesia, St Vincent's Hospital, Victoria Parade, Melbourne, Vic. 3065, Australia. m.lewis@latrobe.edu.au
Maruff
Paul
P
Silbert
Brendan
B
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*