Cognition in Microsurgically Treated Patients after Aneurysmal Haemorrhage

Abstract

Aim: This research aimed to assess cognitive functions, depressive and anxious symptoms in patients after microsurgical treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysm causing subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Material and Methods: The prospective, controlled, randomized trailed was conducted. All patients were operated on by single neurosurgeon (KD). Preoperatively, patients were in good grade (Hunt-Hess I, II) There was no any focal neurological deficit and hydrocephalus postoperatively. The patients were tested in two-time points: 15 and 45 days after microsurgery with a battery of tests and questioners consisting of the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, the Sustained Attention to Response Task, the Trail Making Test, the Hayling Sentence Completion Test, the AC test of attention, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trate Anxiety Inventory, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (verbal part) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Results were compared with sex, age, years of education and verbal IQ matched subjects undergoing discus hernia surgery. Results: Our results showed the presence of cognitive function disorder in the experimental group of patients with trend of being reduced as time passes by. There is a significant difference between experimental and control group with respect to results on cognitive functions tests and questioners of depressive and anxious symptoms at the second time-point. These results are in line with results obtained by other researchers engaged in SAH diagnosed subjects. Conclusion: The detailed neuropsychological assessment of operated patients who sustained SAH and were without focal neurological deficit postoperatively, showed their declination in cognitive function with presence of depressive and anxious symptoms.