Cognitive performance in patients with cerebral aneurysms submitted to surgery

Abstract

Twenty five patients with cerebral aneurysms submitted to surgery were evaluated with cognitive tests to quantify late disorders in language, praxis, orientation, logics, comprehension, memory, depression, dementia and visual gnosis. Results were correlated with age, Hunt-Hess scale, blood at CT (Fisher), angiographic vasospasm (George), side, site, and size of ancurysm. Delayed cognitive disorder was absent in 8 (32%), slight in 5 (20%), moderate in 6 (24%) and severe in 6 (24%). Logics was more affected with 7 severe and moderate patients (28%), praxis was similarly affected in 6 (24%), orientation in 5 (20%), language and memory in 4 (16%); visual gnosis abnormalities, dementia and depression were rarely seen. Patients aged 25-50 years had best cognitive results with sequels absent or slight in 9 patients (75%). Aneurysms of right posterior communicating artery had cognitive sequels absent or slight in 5 (71.42%), right medium cerebral artery in 2 (66,66%). Aneurysms of left medium cerebral artery had the worse results with severe and moderate disabilities in 5 patients (71.42%). Delayed post operative cognitive results in patients operated with cerebral aneurysms are directly related to Hunt-Hess scale, amount of blood at CT, angiographic vasospasm and site of the aneurysm.