{"id":28057,"date":"2019-01-17T01:15:30","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T06:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/?p=28057"},"modified":"2019-02-26T16:58:01","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T21:58:01","slug":"memory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heart-valve-surgery.com\/heart-surgery-blog\/2019\/01\/17\/memory\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study: Heart Surgery Not Linked to Memory Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the years, we’ve had several discussions about cognitive issues following heart surgery. Several patients in our community have complained of “pumphead”. \u00a0Patients often describe pumphead as forgetfulness and\/or memory loss that is potentially attributable to heart-lung machine use during open-heart procedures. \u00a0At the same time, many patients in our community have not noticed any changes in mental capabilities following heart surgery.<\/p>\n

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\"Memory<\/p>\n

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For this reason, I continue to search for more information about post-operative brain function so that we can all learn more. \u00a0That said, I just came across a new study that was recently published in the The Annals of Thoracic Surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This fascinating study found that patients who undergo heart surgery do not experience significant memory changes\u2014either better or worse\u2014when compared with those who have a much less invasive, catheter-based procedure. \u00a0So you know, a catheter procedure is typically a diagnostic test performed prior to heart surgery. \u00a0Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)<\/a>\u00a0also leverages catheters. \u00a0It’s important to note that catheter procedures do not require the use of the heart-lung machine.<\/p>\n

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\"Annals<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was comforting to see that the differences in cognitive decline between the two heart procedures are small, even though one involves major surgery and the other\u2014cardiac catheterization\u2014is a minimally invasive procedure,\u201d said Elizabeth Whitlock, MD<\/a>, from the University of California, San Francisco.<\/p>\n

In this research, Dr. Whitlock\u00a0examined data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) which included 3,105 participants who underwent heart surgery or cardiac catheterization between 2000 and 2014. \u00a0The HRS is an anonymous study of older adults in the United States. \u00a0Patients answer questions about their health and take brief memory tests every 2 years.<\/p>\n

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\"Dr.Dr. Elizabeth Whitlock<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe expected to find a bigger difference in the surgery group, since there are many anecdotes about serious cognitive decline after heart surgery,\u201d said Dr. Whitlock. \u201cOur results are different for several reasons, one being that our follow-up is up to 2 years after surgery, to account for the fact that people may improve over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the report, I came across a new acronym that I had not seen before. \u00a0There was an acknowledgment to post-operative cognitive decline (POCD), especially among older patients. <\/p>\n

The study suggested, “While it is not known for certain what causes POCD, researchers explained that factors such as small strokes that happen during surgery, the impact of inflammation from tissue trauma, and pain medications may have a role.”<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of these factors are temporary, so while they may explain an initial cognitive decline seen in the weeks after a major surgery, cognition should gradually improve as the contributors resolve,\u201d said Dr. Whitlock. \u201cThat\u2019s why this approach\u2014looking at up to 2 years after surgery\u2014is a very important way to look at the \u2018old problem\u2019 of POCD.\u201d<\/p>\n

I hope this helped you learn more about memory decline and heart surgery. \u00a0I know this can be a very scary topic for patients. \u00a0That said, here are additional, educational resources you might like to review.<\/p>\n