The effect of non-significant internal carotid artery stenoses on the results of cognitive training and electroencephalographic indicators in cardiac surgery patients

The effect of atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid arteries (CA) on the success of the cognitive function recovery procedures in cardiac patients has not been sufficiently studied. This study aims to evaluate the effects of cognitive rehabilitation depending on the presence of CA stenosis in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using neurophysiological indicators.

Material and methods. The cohort prospective study involved 85 patients (16 of them women), aged 45 to 75 years, admitted for elective CABG. All patients underwent standard clinical and instrumental, neurological, extended neuropsychological and neurophysiological examination.

Results. After multi-task training, the patients with CA stenosis had higher levels of high-frequency beta power (13-30 Hz), while the spectral power of the alpha1 rhythm (8-10 Hz) in this group was lower compared to patients without stenosis. In the case of successful cognitive rehabilitation (absence of POCD) at 11–12 days after CABG, compared with the group with POCD, patients without stenoses had higher total power of alpha 1 power and lower — beta power than patients with stenoses CA.

Conclusion. The absence of CA stenosis in the patients with successful completion of multi-tasking training contributed to the optimization of brain activity with an increase of alpha power. Whereas the patients with CA stenosis were characterized by an increase in high-frequency brain activity, both in the case of successful multi-tasking training and in its absence, in the early postoperative period of CABG. This study may serve as a basis for the development of special cognitive rehabilitation programs for patients with atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid system.

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