title: Neuropsychological and psychiatric outcomes following coronary surgery or angioplasty: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are similar, but few studies have compared neuropsychological outcomes after these procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study compared detailed neurocognitive and psychosocial functioning in 32 patients (CABG, n = 16; PTCA, n = 16) aged 61 +/- 6 years, 9-15 months after coronary revascularisation. Subjects were tested for executive functioning, speed of processing/attention and learning/memory, significant psychopathology (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ) and psychosocial functioning (Short Form (SF)-36 health survey). In the prospective study, 55 patients completed GHQ and SF-36 surveys, the day prior to and 6 months following PTCA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the CABG and PTCA groups for neuropsychological or psychosocial end-points (P > 0.20). Executive functioning in both groups, however, was worse than for healthy population controls (P < 0.01). The PTCA patients were significantly more likely than CABG patients to have psychiatric abnormality (GHQ Score >4; P < 0.01). After PTCA, however, there was a significant improvement in the GHQ and SF-36 scores (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although executive function is often impaired after coronary revascularisation, neuropsychological status appears equivalent after CABG or PTCA. Psychiatric pathology is common in patients undergoing PTCA, but improves after this intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sader
authors.forename: Laurie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caine
authors.forename: Robyn J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: McCredie
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Corr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: John D G
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Celermajer