title: Psychometric and EEG changes after carotid endarterectomy.
abstract: The influence of carotid stenosis and its surgical treatment on brain function is still poorly defined. We therefore performed a study to assess psychometric and quantified EEG findings after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Sixty-nine non-demented patients (aged 72 ± 7 years) with severe carotid stenosis (≥ 70%) eligible for CEA were studied. Forty patients (group A) had unilateral stenosis, and 29 patients (group B) had bilateral stenosis. Before and 5 months after CEA all the patients were evaluated by the Trail Making Test A, the Symbol Digit Test, and spectral EEG analysis. At baseline, compared to group A, group B patients performed slowly the Trail Making Test A (Z: 1.45 ± 1.4 vs. 0.76 ± 1.3; p <  0.05), but not the Symbol Digit Test (Z: 0.83 ± 1.38 vs. 0.64 ± 1.26; p = 0.59). Altogether, the patients with at least one abnormal psychometric test were 29% (group A: 26%; group B: 33%, p = 0.56). The EEG did not differ significantly between patients of group A compared to group B. After CEA, psychometric tests improved (mean Z score from 0.73 ± 1.12 to 0.45 ± 1.15, p <  0.05). The improvement was similar in group A and B. The EEG mean dominant frequency improved only in group B patients and it was related to the improvement in psychometric tests (r = 0.43, p = 0.05). Low psychometric performance was detectable in about 1/ 3 of non-demented patients with severe carotid stenosis. CEA improved mental performance and, in patients with severe bilateral stenosis, accelerated the EEG frequency.
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna I, Ospedale Ca' Foncello, Via Ospedale, 31100, Treviso, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montagnese
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avruscio
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Piccolo
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mapelli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puato
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rattazzi
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauletto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome