Postoperative cognitive dysfunction in living liver transplant donors.

OBJECTIVES Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is a serious complication that may be associated with increased mortality. Living-donor liver transplant includes major surgery for the donor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preoperative and postoperative cognitive function of liver donors in living-donor liver transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 102 patients who had hepatectomy for liver transplant donation, preoperative and postoperative (1 week) neuropsychologic tests were performed including the Trail Making Test, the Stroop effect, score on the Beck Depression Inventory, and the mini-mental state examination. RESULTS Liver transplant donors had significantly lower mean Trail Making A Test duration and greater mean Trail Making B Test error number after than before surgery. The mean Stroop effect reading durations (black and white reading; reading colored words) were significantly greater after than before surgery; the mean time difference between naming the colors of colored words minus reading colored words, and the error number, were smaller after than before surgery. The mean score on the Beck Depression Inventory and mini-mental state examination score were similar before and after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Mild frontal lobe dysfunction may be present in liver donors at 1 week after surgery, and postoperative attention problems may be experienced by these patients.