Neuropsychological Impairment in Candidates for Cardiac Transplantation

Abstract

Several studies have considered the question of neurobehavioral impairment in patients with cardiac disease. In most cases these studies have focused on patients who were undergoing surgical intervention such as valve replacement (open heart) or coronary artery bypass procedures. To date there have been no studies of neuropsychological function in patients who undergo heart transplantation. This procedure is being performed more frequently due in large part to improvements in surgical technique and in prevention of complications (e.g. tissue rejection). In view of the increasing number of patients who are evaluated for this procedure, it was of interest to examine the possibility of neuropsychological impairment in a sample of patients who were candidates for cardiac transplantation. In view of the fact that the etiology and nature of cardiac pathology was somewhat different than in previously reported cardiac disease samples, the nature and extent of neuropsychological deficits may also be different.