The neuropsychological assessment of cognitive functioning of children after brain aneurysm operation – a case study

Main aim: The article contains a description of cognitive functioning of two children after surgery of brain aneurysm. Vascular malformations of the brain in children are very rare in clinical practice, so it is of great importance to investigate the long-term neuropsychological consequences of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, including social and emotional functioning of these children.
Material and method: Two children were neuropsychologically investigated, a thirteen-year old boy and a sixteen-year old girl. In both cases the aneurysm was located in the left parietal lobe, parietal-occipital artery. In the first case the investigation took place two years after the surgery, and in the second case four years after the surgery. In the neuropsychological investigation several tools were used including: the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, and some experimental methods from the Łucki Book for investigating the cognitive functioning of patients with organic brain damage. An interview with the parents of the children was also undertaken.
Results: Significant neuropsychological deficits were observed in two described patients which negatively influence the educational as well as social functioning of the children. In both cases there were problems with memory functioning and learning new material – the most important cognitive ability which helps to effectively adapt to new situations.
Conclusions: Early finding of neuropsychological deficits in children after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage can provide an effective neurorehabilitation of some cognitive functions and help these children to adapt to new situations of the illness.