Everyday Memory in Microsurgically Treated Patients After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Abstract

Background: Memory declines measured by traditional tests in pa-tients after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are well documented. Classic examinations of memory problems sometimes do not signifi-cantly correlate with memory functions in everyday life. The objec-tive of the study was to assess the specific type of everyday memory loss in patients after microsurgical treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysm causing SAH. Methods: The prospective controlled, randomized study was con-ducted using the specific tests for everyday memory measure with high ecological validity. All patients were operated on by the same neurosurgeon (KD). Preoperatively, patients were in a good grade (Hunt-Hess I or II), with no neurological deficit and no hydroceph-alus postoperatively. Patients were tested at two phases: 15 and 45 days after microsurgery with the Rivermead behavioral memory test (RBMT) and the cognitive failure questionnaire (CFQ). Results: We compared the results of the tests administered in subjects that underwent microdiscectomy surgery for SAH to a control group that underwent surgery for lumbar disc herniation (DH). Conclusion: Neuropsychological assessment of operated patients who sustained SAH showed a decline, compared to the DH group, in everyday memory function. Also, we found failures in perception and motor function in operated SAH patients with a trend of cognitive recovery as time progresses.