Preexisting cognitive impairment is an important, but underrecognized, predictor of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction, a common and important sequela of surgery. We have applied computerized neuropsychological testing as an efficient and reliable means of detecting preexisting cognitive impairment in two studies of cardiac and noncardiac surgical populations and propose that this tool has great potential in routine clinical diagnosis.
Keywords: anesthesia; cognitive assessment screening instrument; mild neurocognitive disorder; neurocognitive tests; postoperative cognitive disorder.
© 2021 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.