Neurocognitive effects of cardiopulmonary bypass

SUMMARYNEUROCOGNITIVE EFFECTS OF CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASSObjective:The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass onthe neurocognitive functions in patients with coronary artery disease.Methods:We evaluated 36 patients who had elective coronary artery bypass surgery inthis prospective study. We performed a neurocognitive test battery in thepreoperative period and postoperative first month. This test battery includes HealthRelated Quality of Life (SF-36), Hamilton Anxiety Scale, SMMT (Standardized mini-mental test), Pitsburg Sleepy Index Test, Epworth Sleeepness Test. The results werecompared and demographic and hemodynamic parameters of patients evaluated.Results:As a result of the comparison between preoperative and postoperative scoreswe found that psychologic and physical functions of quality of life and Hamiltonanxiety scores were significantly increased postoperatively (p< 0.05). SMMT test wasfound an insignificant decrese in postoperative values (p>0.05). Pitsburg andEpworth scales were evaluated and found that statistically insignificant decrease andincrease respectively.Conclusion:The coronary artery surgery increases the quality of life of the patients. Theevaluation of Hamilton Anxiety Scale demonstrates that both motor and psychologicparameters decreased. In respect to cognitive functions we found statisticallyinsignificant decrease.