Effect of epidural block on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of epidural block on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia.Methods Sixty ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 65-75 yr,with preoperative Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ＞ 23,scheduled for elective laparoscopic radical operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia,were randomized into epidural block group (group E,n =30) and control group (group C,n =30) using a random number table.Epidural block was performed at T8,9 interspace before induction of anesthesia.Anesthesia was induced with iv injection of midazolam 0.03 mg/kg,propofol 1.0-1.5 mg/kg,fentanyl 3-4 μg/kg and rocuronium 0.9 mg/kg.The patients were endotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated.Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of remifentanil 0.15-0.25 μg· kg-1· min 1 and propofol target-controlled infusion (target plasma concentration 2.5-3.0μg/ml).In group E,10 ml of mixture of 0.25％ ropivacaine and 0.04 mg/ml butorphanol was injected via the epidural catheter at 30 min before skin incision.In the two groups,the mixture 10 ml mentioned above was administered via the epidural catheter at 10 min before the end of operation followed by patientcontrolled epidural analgesia.The development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (MMSE score ＜ 21) was recorded within 72 h after operation.Blood samples were collected from the internal jugular vein to detect the concentration of serum protein S-100β.Results The concentration of serum protein S-100β was significantly lower at 6,12 and 24 h after operation,and the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction within 72 h after operation was lower in group E than in group C (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Epidural block can decrease the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic radical operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia.