Late neurocognitive changes from neurological damage following coronary bypass surgery

A detailed case study with neuropsychological data over a 26-year period wa s used to explore the relationship between neurocognitive vulnerability pre operatively and subsequent neurocognitive decline identified several years postoperatively Guidelines regarding the importance of neuropsychological a ssessment of intelligence, attention, memory language, and visual-spatial p lanning and organizational skills are provided. Such evaluations clarify po stoperative treatment planning because rehabilitation of cardiac patients w ith premorbid neurocognitive deficits poses special rehabilitation problems . With a detailed neurologic history as part of the preoperative evaluation , healthcare providers can identify acute and subtle risk factors for posto perative neurologic syndromes. This may lead to interventions designed to p rovide increased patient and family support.