ABSTRACT
As demonstrated in the previous chapters in this book, as well as numerous previous studies, neuropsychological impairment has been demonstrated in patients with cardiovascular disease and in subgroups of these patients who have undergone open-heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (Becker, Katz, Polonius, & Speidel, 1982; Sotaniemi, Juolasmaa, Eero, & Hokkanen, 1981; Willner & Rodewald, 1990). In contrast, relatively few studies have examined neuropsychological factors in patients with the most severe cardiac disease who are candidates for, or who have undergone cardiac transplantation. This is the case even though several early studies (Ang, Gillett, & Kaufmann, 1989; Montero & Martinez, 1986; Schober & Herman, 1973) have revealed a high incidence of organic neurological complications in cardiac transplant recipients early in the postoperative period. In one series (Ang et al., 1989) 94% of patients had neuropathological changes, of which cerebrovascular were the most common. There was a high prevalence of multiple infarcts and diffuse abnormalities.
