Comparison of postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing sevoflurane-based anesthesia versus propofol-based anesthesia / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing sevoflurane-based anesthesia versus propofol-based anesthesia.Methods Sixty-two patients of both sexes,aged 65-80 yr,weighing 48-90 kg,of ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,were randomly allocated to either sevoflurane-based anesthesia group (group S,n=31) or propofol-based anesthesia group (group P,n =31).At 1 day before operation and 7 days after operation,cognitive function was assessed by MiniMental State Examination,Digit Span Test (forward test and backward test),Digit-Symbol Substitution Test,Trail Making Test A and Word Recognition Test,and the scores were recorded.Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in the scores of each test used for assessment of cognitive function.Compared to group P,Mini-Mental State Examination scores,forward test scores and backward test scores obtained from Digit Span Test,Digit-Symbol Substitution Test scores,and Word Recognition Test scores were significantly decreased at 7 days after operation,and no significant change was found in Trail Making Test A scores in group S.Conclusion Postoperative cognitive function is decreased under sevoflurane-based anesthesia when compared with that under propofol-based anesthesia in the elderly patients.