Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6(11), 2725-2739; doi:10.3390/ijerph6112725
Article

A History of Alcohol Dependence Increases the Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgical Patients

Judith A. Hudetz 1,2,* email, Kathleen M. Patterson 2,3 email, Alison J. Byrne 2 email, Zafar Iqbal 1,2 email, Sweeta D. Gandhi 1,2 email, David C. Warltier 1,2 email and Paul S. Pagel 1,2 email
1 Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA 2 Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53295, USA 3 Departments of Psychiatry, Behavioral Medicine, and Neurology Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 27 August 2009 / Accepted: 17 October 2009 / Published: 27 October 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alcohol and Public Health)
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Abstract: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) commonly occurs after cardiac surgery. We tested the hypothesis that a history of alcohol dependence is associated with an increased incidence and severity of POCD in male patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. Recent verbal and nonverbal memory and executive functions were assessed before and one week after surgery in patients with or without a history of alcohol dependence. Cognitive function was significantly reduced after cardiac surgery in patients with versus without a history of alcohol dependence. The results suggest that a history of alcohol dependence increases the incidence and severity of POCD after cardiac surgery.
Keywords: alcohol dependence; cardiac surgery; cardiopulmonary bypass; neurocognitive function

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Hudetz, J.A.; Patterson, K.M.; Byrne, A.J.; Iqbal, Z.; Gandhi, S.D.; Warltier, D.C.; Pagel, P.S. A History of Alcohol Dependence Increases the Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgical Patients. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 2725-2739.

AMA Style

Hudetz JA, Patterson KM, Byrne AJ, Iqbal Z, Gandhi SD, Warltier DC, Pagel PS. A History of Alcohol Dependence Increases the Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgical Patients. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2009; 6(11):2725-2739.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hudetz, Judith A.; Patterson, Kathleen M.; Byrne, Alison J.; Iqbal, Zafar; Gandhi, Sweeta D.; Warltier, David C.; Pagel, Paul S. 2009. "A History of Alcohol Dependence Increases the Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgical Patients." Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 6, no. 11: 2725-2739.

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