Cognitive dysfunction after cardiovascular surgery

Abstract

This review describes the incidence, risk factors, and long-term consequences of cognitive dysfunction after cardiovascular surgery. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is increasingly being recognized as an important complication, especially in the elderly. A highly sensitive neuropsychological test battery must be used to detect POCD and a well-matched control group is very useful for the analysis and interpretation of the test

Results: Cardiovascular surgery is associated with a high incidence of POCD. Cardiopulmonary bypass was thought to explain this difference, but randomized studies comparing with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery show contradictory

Results: POCD seems to have important long-term consequences regarding self-assessed quality of life, survival, and labor market attachment.