Neuropsychological and behavioral status of Chinese children with acyanotic congenital heart disease.

Thirty-nine children between the ages of 5 to 8 years (N = 27) and 9 to 14 years (N = 12) who were undergoing cardiac surgery for repair of ventricular or atrial septal defect and 39 controls matched for age, educational level and social class were administered the age-appropriate Chinese versions of the Wechsler Intelligence scales and the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological test batteries. Parents completed the Achenbach Behavioral Rating Scale. Surgical subjects underwent extracorporeal circulation and hypotensive anesthesia. The intellectual development of children with heart disease was significantly lower than normal controls and showed particular impairment of complex integrative functions of the brain. Parents of surgical subjects also rated their children as having greater behavioral disturbance than did parents of healthy children. Acyanotic heart disease was found to both impact negatively neuropsychological and behavioral functioning.