Marked improvement of neuropsychological impairment in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after lung volume reduction surgery.

Abstract

This paper reports a case of a 71-year-old pulmonary emphysema patient with neuropsychological impairments that were markedly improved 6 months after he underwent lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). He also underwent pulmonary rehabilitation before and after surgery. He was suspected of having memory impairment and attention disorder when he was referred for rehabilitation. The neuropsychologic test showed a general cognitive impairment, attention disorder, and verbal memory impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging showed moderate atrophy of the left hippocampal area, cortex, and lacunae infarction in the periventricular area. Interestingly, scores of the neuropsychologic test, as well as severity of dyspnea and lung function, remarkably improved 6 months after LVRS. These results suggested that the neuropsychological impairments in pulmonary emphysema patients can be improved after lung reduction surgery.

• Authors: M Watanabe, M Kohzuki, K Meguro, Y Goto, T Sato
• Journal: The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine (Tohoku J Exp Med) Vol. 193 Issue 1 Pg. 67-72 (Jan 2001) ISSN: 0040-8727 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 11321052 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Blood Gas Analysis
• Brain (pathology)
• Depression (psychology)
• Humans
• Lung (surgery)
• Lung Diseases, Obstructive (pathology, psychology, surgery)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Respiratory Function Tests
• Surveys and Questionnaires