Neuropsychologic alterations after cardiac operation.

To study the incidence and course of neuropsychologic sequelae from cardiac operation, a battery of tests was administered to 46 patients before and after coronary artery bypass surgery. Their performance was compared with that of 14 peripheral vascular surgery patients and 26 nonsurgical control patients. A subsample of each group was studied again 6 months later. Test results were consistent with previous reports. Neuropsychologic deficits after cardiac operation are not uncommon, though they are often subtle and generally resolve by the sixth month after operation. Postoperative deficit was significant on measures of attention, psychomotor speed, and fine motor dexterity, but considerable interpatient performance variability was noted. Other findings imply that nonspecific aspects or surgery may make a substantial contribution to the immediate postoperative deficit in patients who have cardiac operations.