Background: We evaluated the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass on neurocognitive functions in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

Methods: This prospective study included 36 patients (24 women, 12 men; mean age 57±2 years) who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The patients were administered a neurocognitive test battery before and one month after surgery, including the Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36), Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. In addition, demographic data and hemodynamic parameters of the patients were evaluated.

Results: Compared to the preoperative scores, significant improvements were found in the psychologic and motor or physical function subsets of the SF-36 and Hamilton Anxiety Scale after the operation (p<0.05). Scores of the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination remained unchanged (p>0.05). There was a decrease in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and an increase in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, but both did not reach a significant level.

Conclusion: Coronary bypass surgery improves the patients’ quality of life, but it significantly decreases motor and psychologic parameters. Decrease in cognitive functions is not significant.

Keywords : Cardiopulmonary bypass/psychology; cognition disorders/etiology; neuropsychological tests; postoperative complications; quality of life; questionnaires