A, Total deficit scores at day 1: Higher total deficit scores represent a greater decline in performance. The cutoff for significant cognitive injury (5.46 points) at day 1 is 2 SDs above the mean of the control group (2.16±1.65) and is depicted by the horizontal line. Based on this criterion, 22 patients (28%) have significant cognitive decline following CEA, compared with a control group of patients undergoing spine surgery. In the control group, lumbar spine surgeries included 21 (86%) undergoing laminectomy, 3 (12%) undergoing discectomy, and 1 (2%) undergoing microdiscectomy. B, Total deficit scores at day 30: The cutoff for significant cognitive injury (4.65 points) is 2 SDs above the mean of the control group (1.81±1.42) and is depicted by the horizontal line. Based on this criterion, 11 (23%) of 48 patients have significant cognitive decline 1 month after CEA, compared with a control group of patients undergoing spine surgery.