Task-related changes in degree centrality and local coherence of the posterior cingulate cortex after major cardiac surgery in older adults.

Objectives: Older adults often display postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) after surgery, yet it is unclear to what extent functional connectivity (FC) alterations may underlie these deficits. We examined for postoperative voxel-wise FC changes in response to increased working memory load demands in cardiac surgery patients and nonsurgical controls.

Experimental Design: Older cardiac surgery patients (n = 25) completed a verbal N-back working memory task during MRI scanning and cognitive testing before and 6 weeks after surgery; nonsurgical controls with cardiac disease (n = 26) underwent these assessments at identical time intervals.

Resting-State Functional Connectivity and Cognition After Major Cardiac Surgery in Older Adults without Preoperative Cognitive Impairment: Preliminary Findings.

Objectives: To look for changes in intrinsic functional brain connectivity associated with postoperative changes in cognition, a common complication in seniors undergoing major surgery, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Design: Objective cognitive testing and functional brain imaging were prospectively performed at preoperative baseline and 6 weeks after surgery and at the same time intervals in nonsurgical controls.

Setting: Academic medical center.

Determinants of a subject's decision to participate in clinical anesthesia research.

Background: A top priority for research studies is to ensure that potential participants receive adequate information to make a truly informed decision. Understanding patient experiences with the recruitment process may identify areas for improvement in the consent process. We examined which factors were associated with the decision to consent in a clinical research study.