Neuropsychological Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery: A Pilot Feasibility Study
Abstract
Approximately half of patients who have cardiac surgery will experience deficits in attention, memory, and thinking speed after their operation. Given that heart surgery is one of the most common medical procedures in Canada, it is necessary to better understand the natural history of cognitive impairment after such surgery. Yet, there is no globally accepted method for measuring cognitive function in patients who undergo heart surgery. To address this, we assessed whether it was feasible to use a web-based approach to measure cognition in heart surgery patients before and after their operation. Findings showed that remote administration of cognitive testing was feasible. Relative to healthy age and sex-matched controls, cardiac patients showed impairment on the Creyos battery before and after surgery, specifically on tasks that relied on verbal processing skills. This study will help identify vulnerable patients and inform future interventional trials to promote cognitive recovery and improve patient quality of life.