The effect of carotid endarterectomy on mental functioning

Abstract

In order to ascertain the effect of carotid endarterectomy on mental functioning, carotid endarterectomy patients suffering from transient ischemic attacks (TIA) were compared preoperatively and post-operatively with cholecystectomy patients. Preoperatively, a tendency toward poorer verbal memory and greater well-being is found in carotid endarterectomy patients. Postoperatively, the overall mental functioning of the carotid endarterectomy patients is not significantly improved, though verbal fluency does show improvement. The well-being of both groups is significantly greater following operation. The complaints of the carotid endarterectomy patients during the (last) TIA had already diminished before operation and after operation remained practically on the same level. Preoperatively and postoperatively, no clear connection exists between mental functioning and age of patients in this experiment, nor between mental functioning and the side of the operation. Finally, in the case of 5 patients, no long-term (4.5 months) effect of carotid endarterectomy could be indicated.