Psychological problems and cognitive impairments in the GUCH Community
Scarso, P.; Volpe, B.; Melendugno, A.; Daliento, L.
Italian Heart Journal. Suppl Official Journal of the Italian Federation of Cardiology 4(9): 705-711
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 1129-4728 PMID: 14635387 Document Number: 563602
The increase of the GUCH Community requires a new definition of cardiac surgical success, which has to be considered either in terms of survival or quality of life and quality of health. Clinical and psychological problems are present in this population secondary to native cardiac disease, surgical correction, and social environment. Cognitive impairment after cardiac surgery is not rare, but an exhaustive evaluation of the psychological and neurodevelopmental outcome of patients operated on for total correction of congenital heart disease is complex and its clinical significance can be obtained by the integration of cardiological data, psychological status, and sociodemographic variables.