Impact of cardiopulmonary bypass cardiac surgery on postoperative cognitive function in children

Objective To investigate the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass cardiac surgery on postoperative cognitive function of patients who wre undergoing selective cardiac surgery. Methods Fifty children patients who were scheduled for cardiac surgery were investigated with C-WISC (Chinese revised Wechsler Intelligence Scales for children) preoperative. The children patients were tested at the 7th day and 1 month postoperative by C-WISC and digital span. It could be defined postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) if the C-WISC score decreased 1 SD (standard deviation). Results The incidence of POCD at the 7th day and in the first month postoperative was 40%, and 20% in pediatric patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. It shows that ascending aorta clip time and cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP) time had negative correlation with intelligence quotient (IQ) (P 0.05). Conclusions The occurrence of POCD in cardiac surgery children underwent CPB tend to be high, with long time CPB and aortic clip were more likely to have postoperative dysfunction. It shows a close relationship between CPB and aortic clip with POCD. Age and education had no significant influence on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in CPB cardiac surgery children. Key words: Extracorporeal circulation; Cardiac surgical procedures/AE; Cognition disorders/CO