Brazilian Journal of Anesthesiology (Jan 2022)

Assessment of a digital game as a neuropsychological test for postoperative cognitive dysfunction

  • André Lucatelli,
  • Ananaira Alves Goulart,
  • Paulo Sergio Panse Silveira,
  • José de Oliveira Siqueira,
  • Maria José Carvalho Carmona,
  • Valéria Fontenelle Angelim Pereira,
  • Livia Stocco Sanches Valentin,
  • Joaquim Edson Vieira

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 72, no. 1
pp. 7 – 12

Abstract

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Objective: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction may result from worsening in a condition of previous impairment. It causes greater difficulty in recovery, longer hospital stays, and consequent delay in returning to work activities. Digital games have a potential neuromodulatory and rehabilitation effect. In this study, a digital game was used as a neuropsychological test to assess postoperative cognitive dysfunction, with preoperative patient performance as control. Methods: It was a non-controlled study, with patients selected among candidates for elective non-cardiac surgery, evaluated in the pre- and postoperative periods. The digital game used has six phases developed to evaluate selective attention, alternating attention, visuoperception, inhibitory control, short-term memory, and long-term memory. The digital game takes about 25 minutes. Scores are the sum of correct answers in each cognitive domain. Statistical analysis compared these cognitive functions pre- and post-surgery using a generalized linear mixed model (ANCOVA). Results: Sixty patients were evaluated, 40% male and 60% female, with a mean age of 52.7 ± 13.5 years. Except for visuoperception, a reduction in post-surgery scores was found in all phases of the digital game. Conclusion: The digital game was able to detect decline in several cognitive functions postoperatively. As its completion is faster than in conventional tests on paper, this digital game may be a potentially recommended tool for assessing patients, especially the elderly and in the early postoperative period.

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