Preoperative cognitive intervention reduces cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients after gastrointestinal surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative conditions may play a significant role in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) development in elderly patients. We aimed to investigate whether preoperative cognitive training could lower the incidence of POCD one week after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 141 ASA I-III elderly patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery were enrolled into the study. Patients were randomized into either the Intervention group (69 analyzed) or the Control group (72 analyzed). Patients in the intervention group were instructed and trained in a cognition mnemonic skill for a total of three 1-hour sessions with the method of loci (MoL). Controls did not receive any cognitive training during hospitalization. All patients were tested using neuropsychological battery tests (NPTs) on admission and one week after surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of POCD in the intervention group (15.9%) was significantly lower than in the controls (36.1%) (P<0.05). Patients' performance in Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised and Symbol-Digit Modalities Test were improved by the cognitive training. Increasing age, longer length of anesthesia and surgery, and lack of cognitive training were associated with a significantly higher risk of POCD (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive training with MoL can reduce the decline of early postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

The effect of KETODEX on the incidence and severity of emergence agitation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy using sevoflurane based-anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative emergency agitation (EA) is a common problem often observed in children undergoing general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a bolus of intraoperative low-dose ketamine followed by dexmedetomidine i.v. could reduce the incidence of EA in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy following sevoflurane-based anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 92 children undergoing adenotonsillectomy, aged 3-7 years, were randomly allocated to receive either low-doseketamine 0.15 mg/kg followed by dexmedetomidine 0.3 µg/kg i.v. (KETODEX, n=45) or volume-matched normal saline (Control, n=47), about 10 min before the end of surgery. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with sevoflurane. Postoperative pain and EA were assessed with objective pain score (OPS) and the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium scale (PAED), respectively. EA was defined as a PAED≥10 points. Recovery profile and postoperative complications were recorded. RESULT: The incidence and severity of EA was lower in KETODEX group than controls (11% vs. 47%) and (2% vs. 13%), respectively (P<0.05). The frequency of fentanyl rescue was lower in KETODEX group than in controls (13.3 vs. 38.3%, P<0.05). Heart rate during extubation was significantly higher in the control group compared with children who received KETODEX (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative pain was significantly less in the KETODEX group (15.5% vs. 63.8%, P<0.05). Times to interaction and extubation were significantly longer in the KETODEX group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: KETODEX reduces the incidence and severity of EA in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy following sevoflurane-based anesthesia and provided smooth extubation.

A priming dose of intravenous ketamine-dexmedetomidine suppresses fentanyl-induced coughing: a double-blind, randomized, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate whether a priming dose of ketamine-dexmedetomidine can effectively suppress fentanyl-induced coughing (FIC). METHODS: Altogether 400 patients of ASA I and II, aged 18-70 years, undergoing various elective surgical procedures, were randomly allocated into four groups of 100 patients each. Patients in the placebo group received volume-matched normal saline 0.15 mL/kg + normal saline 0.05 mL/kg. One group of patients was given ketamine 0.15 mg/kg + normal saline 0.05 ml/kg (KET), and another group dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg + normal saline 0.05 ml/kg (DEX). Finally, one group of patients received ketamine 0.15 mg/kg + dexmedetomidine 0.5 µg/kg (KETODEX). After fentanyl administration, the onset time and severity of cough for 1 min were recorded. Cough severity was graded as mild (grade 1-2), moderate (grade 3-5), or severe (grade >5). RESULT: The incidence of FIC was 53%, 34%, 20%, and 9% in the placebo, DEX, KET, and KETODEX groups, respectively. The incidence of cough was significantly lower in the KETODEX group. Likewise, the onset time of cough was significantly delayed in the KETODEX group. Only nine patients in the KETODEX group had either mild (6%) or moderate (3%) cough, with none suffering from severe cough. CONCLUSION: A priming dose of KETODEX effectively suppressed the cough reflex induced by fentanyl and delayed the onset time of cough. Therefore, treatment with KETODEX may be a clinically useful method for preventing FIC.