RÉSUMÉ
Objective To discuss influence of different anesthetic methods on postoperative serum excitatory amino acid (EAA) levels and cognitive function of elderly patients operated with transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). Methods A total of 100 cases of elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in Department of Anesthesiol-ogy of the hospital to be given the TURP operation at certain time were selected, and divided into general anesthesia group (n=50) and epidural group (n=50) in accordance with different anesthetic methods, who were given intubation anesthesia and epidural anesthesia respectively. The changes of serum EAA levels and cognitive function before anes-thesia, 4 hours, 8 hours, one day and four days after the operation of patients in two groups were observed and record-ed. Results Serum EAA levels 4 hours, 8 hours and one day after the operation of patients in two groups rose than be-fore (P<0.05), and the rising rates in epidural group were much lower than those in general anesthesia group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, MMSE scores of patients in two groups 4 hours, 8 hours and one day after the operation declined than be-fore (P<0.05), and the declining rates in epidural group were much lower than those in general anesthesia group (P<0.05). Four days after operation, the serum EAA levels and MMSE scores of patients in two groups returned to the levels before anesthesia (P>0.05). Conclusion Both intubation anesthesia and epidural anesthesia have effect on early cogni-tive function of elderly patients operated with TURP, and the former has less influence on early cognitive function of patients, which may have close effect on the lower rising rate of serum EAA level by epidural anesthesia.