Effectiveness of multitask cognitive training in cardiac surgery patients in the early postoperative period: description of clinical cases

Aim. Approbation of a course of cognitive rehabilitation using multitasking cognitive training in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Materials and Methods. The study involved 10 cardiac surgery patients who underwent a course of multitasking cognitive training in the early postoperative period of CABG. All patients underwent neurological and advanced neuropsychological testing before the intervention and upon completion of cognitive rehabilitation. The results of cognitive rehabilitation of two study participants are described as clinical cases. Results. Most patients (7 out of 10) responded positively to the course. It was also possible to achieve a reduction in the frequency of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) to 40 %. The individual relative change (Δ) index showed that 5 patients (50 %) improved by 20 % or more, or did not change their executive and psychomotor functions, attention scores in 3 patients (30 %), short-term memory improvement − 7 patients (70 %). Successful completion of cognitive rehabilitation course (no POCD) was observed in a man, 60 years old, with initial lack of cognitive impairment with sufficient level of motivation to undergo training. Whereas for a 68-year-old patient with preoperative cognitive impairment and reduced motivation, the training course was unsuccessful. Conclusion. Seven out of 10 patients showed satisfactory results in individual transferability of the multitask training course, as well as transfer of the training effect to other cognitive functions not trained. Two clinical cases demonstrated that the initial cognitive status, level of motivation and even gender of patients can affect the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in the early postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting.