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Effects of preventive surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms on attention, executive function, learning and memory: a prospective cohort study

  • Clinical Article - Vascular
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Abstract

Background

We prospectively evaluated the effects of preventive surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms on attention, executive function, learning and memory.

Methods

Between March 2012 and June 2013, 56 patients were recruited for this study. Fifty-one patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age ≤65 years and (2) planned microsurgery or endovascular surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysm. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) preoperative intelligence quotient <80 (n = 3); (2) initial modified Rankin scale ≥1 (n = 1); (3) loss to follow-up (n = 1). An auditory controlled continuous performance test (ACCPT), word-color test (WCT) and verbal learning test (VLT) were performed before and after (6 months) preventive surgery.

Results

ACCPT (attention), WCT (executive function) and VLT (learning and memory) scores did not change significantly between the pre- and postoperative evaluations. The ACCPT, WCT, total VLT scores (verbal learning) and delayed VLT scores (memory) did not differ significantly between patients undergoing microsurgery and those undergoing endovascular surgery. However, ACCPT, WCT and delayed VLT scores decreased postoperatively in patients with leukoaraiosis on preoperative FLAIR images (OR 9.899, p = 0.041; OR 11.421, p = 0.006; OR 2.952, p = 0.024, respectively).

Conclusions

Preventive surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms did not affect attention, executive function, learning or memory. However, patients with leukoaraiosis on FLAIR images might be prone to deficits in attention, executive function and memory postoperatively, whereas learning might not be affected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211, Eonjuro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-720, Republic of Korea

    Joonho Chung, Min A. Kwon, Yong Bae Kim, Jin-Yang Joo & Chang-Ki Hong

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jeong-Ho Seok

  3. Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Joonho Chung & Chang-Ki Hong

Authors
  1. Joonho Chung
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Correspondence to Chang-Ki Hong.

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Funding

Yonsei University College of Medicine provided financial support in the form of a faculty research grant of Yonsei University College of Medicine for 2012 (6-2012-0094).

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None.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of our Institutional Review Board.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Chung, J., Seok, JH., Kwon, M.A. et al. Effects of preventive surgery for unruptured intracranial aneurysms on attention, executive function, learning and memory: a prospective cohort study. Acta Neurochir 158, 197–205 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-015-2641-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-015-2641-z

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