Electroencephalogram and retinal vessels in congenital cyanotic heart disease before and after surgery.

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Abstract
Retinal vascular changes are present in all cases of congenital cyanotic heart disease. The severitv of these changes is most marked in patients with the highest PCVs [packed cell volume]. The EEG [Electroencephalogram] is frequently abnormal in congenital cyanotic heart disease even in the absence of overt neurological symptoms and signs. The degree of EEG abnormality bears no relation to the PCV. The dramatic reversion towards normality shown in the retinal vessels after correction of the cardiac lesion is not paralleled by improvements in the EEG. In only a minority of cases is an improvement in the EEG detectable 3 months after operative correction of the cardiac defect. The EEG defect in congenital cyanotic heart disease is not a simple functional disturbance directly related to arterial desaturation or to a diminution of cerebral blood flow from polycythemia.