Assessing postoperative cognitive dysfunction using 3D multiple object tracking in open heart surgery patients

BACKGROUND: Post-operative cognitive dysfunction is a common complication after heart surgery that affects up to 60% of all open-heart surgery patients. Despite its prevalence, limited attention has been given to different methods to retrain cognition in open-heart surgery patients. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether 3-dimensional multiple object tracking (3D MOT) can be used to detect changes in cognitive function in open-heart surgery patients. METHODS: In total, 16 open-heart surgery patients (age: 59.43 [Formula: see text] 12.99 years) from a Midwestern Canadian hospital were recruited. The patients completed a cognitive assessment, including 3D MOT and other standardized neurocognitive tests at 3 time points: 1 to 2 days pre-surgery, at discharge or 1-week post-surgery (whichever came first), and at 12-weeks post-surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between baseline and 1-week/discharge measurements on all measures. Patients improved significantly from 1-week/discharge to 12-weeks in 3D MOT scores. A similar yet non-significant ([Formula: see text] 0.07) trend was found on some neurocognitive tests (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment). CONCLUSION: No significant decline from pre- to 1-week/discharge post-surgery was found on all measures. 3D MOT detected post-surgical cognitive changes in open-heart surgery patients. Future research is warranted to explore the potential of 3D MOT in retraining cognition after heart surgery.