Effects of Cardiac Surgery on Intellectual Function in Infants and Children

Intellectual function was evaluated by Gesell's developmental quotient (DQ) and Binet's intelligence quotient (IQ) in 161 infants and children (61 ventricular septal defects, 49 tetralogies of Fallot, 15 transpositions of the great arteries, seven atrial septal defects, five complete atrioventricular canals, five double outlet right ventricles and 19 shunt cases; average age 3.6 years) before and after cardiac surgery. There were no significant differences in preoperative DQs and IQs among the patient groups. Although average DQ scores in 21 infants with hypothermic (13–24°C) total circulatory arrest (36-70min) were not significantly different from the preoperative values, 13 patients with an arrest time >50 min showed a significant decrease in DQ scores. The postoperative DQ and IQ scores in patients without circulatory arrest or in shunt cases were not significantly impaired after surgery. It was concluded that cardiac surgery did not impair intellectual function in infants and children. although cerebral dysfunction might occur if circulatory arrest was >50 min. Copyright © 1996 The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery.

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