Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 60. No. 1., 2021.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.01.18
Is It Time to Redefine Cognitive Dysfunction after Cardiac Surgery? The Importance of Methodological Consistency
Sandro Glumac
orcid.org/0000-0002-9533-1261
; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia
Goran Kardum
orcid.org/0000-0002-5766-361X
; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Nenad Karanović
; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
High incidence and significance of repercussions on patient health and healthcare
system make postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) a major problem following cardiac surgery.
POCD frequency drops over time since surgery and its occurrence are related to different aspects of
cognitive deterioration that markedly impair the patient quality of life. Therefore, a substantial number
of papers have focused on this complex postoperative complication, however, with limited achievement
in clarifying it. The underlying mechanisms of POCD development and contributing factors are
still unclear. A significant issue in POCD research is the lack of uniformity in defining cognitive
impairment
among investigators, including unique terminology of cognitive changes, a battery of
appropriate
neuropsychological tests, timing of assessment, and statistical approach. Thus, the aim of
this review is to address the difficulties in establishing POCD definition, with inclusion of specific
recommendations based on recent publications.
Keywords
Cardiac surgical procedures; Cardiopulmonary bypass; Cognition disorders; Cognitive dysfunction; Neuropsychological tests; Postoperative complications
Hrčak ID:
259917
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2021.
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