Dynamics of the Alterations of Cognitive Functions in Patients with Past Interventions on the Carotid System

INTRODUCTION: Among the European population of 715 million people, 1.4 million cases of strokes are recorded annually. Of them, approximately 87% are ischemic strokes, and approximately 20% were accounted for by atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries. To prevent an ischemic cerebral event associated with atherosclerosis of brachiocephalic arteries, different surgical techniques have been developed including carotid endarterectomy (CEAE) and carotid artery stenting (CAS). CEAE and CAS reliably reduce the risk of recurrent stroke associated with atherothrombosis, but with this, the level of alterations of cognitive functions and the restoration of cerebral functional deficit have not been widely studied. At present, no randomized studies and meta-analyses have met all the standards of conducting research concerning alterations in cognitive functions in patients with past interventions on carotid arteries. Some medical centers have performed such interventions, but data are not unambiguous: some authors describe the improvement of cognitive functions, whereas others do not note any differences or even see signs of impairment.

CONCLUSION: This literature review highlights an issue concerning the assessment of the alteration of postoperative cognitive deficit in patients with past CEAE or CAS. Comparisons in the context of cognitive cerebral functions in the postoperative period of endarterectomy or stenting and assessment of neurological status in patients with or without a history of acute cerebrovascular accident, different variants of anesthesia, and CEAE techniques are considered.