Effect of asymptomatic carotid artery disease on cognitive outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass

This prospective study reinvestigates the effect of asymptomatic carotid artery disease on the cognitive outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (Harrison et al., 1989). Patients (N = 104) scheduled for cardiac surgery using CPB were classified in one of two groups based on the results of a preoperative duplex B mode Doppler scan of the internal carotid arteries. All patients received a neuropsychological examination before surgery, 8 days after surgery, and 6 months after surgery (n = 79). When group data are considered, patients showed evidence of selective cognitive dysfunction early after surgery. These dysfunctions were resolved by the sixth postoperative month. We found no indications that the presence of asymptomatic carotid artery disease increased the incidence of cognitive disturbances after CPB or differentially affected the postoperative performance. We conclude that mild to moderate asymptomatic carotid artery disease does not appear to play a major role in the genesis of postoperative neuropsychological sequelae.