Review Article
Cognitive Dysfunction after Surgery: An Emergent Problem
Canistro Gennaro1, Levantesi Laura1, Oggiano Marco1, Sicuranza Rossella1, Congedo Elisabetta2and De Cosmo Germano1*1Institute of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
2A Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
- *Corresponding Author:
- De Cosmo Germano
Institute of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
Catholic University of Sacred Heart
Rome, Italy
Tel: 0390630154507
E-mail: germano.decosmo@unicatt.it
Received date: January 31, 2017; Accepted date: February 15, 2017; Published date: February 22, 2017
Citation: Gennaro C, Laura L, Marco O, Rossella S, Elisabetta C, et al. (2017) Cognitive Dysfunction after Surgery: An Emergent Problem. J Alzheimers Dis Parkinsonism 7:304. doi:10.4172/2161-0460.1000304
Copyright: © 2017 Gennaro C, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Abstract
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) results as a large problem that causes a reduction in the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality especially in elderly patients. The increased age of patients undergoing surgery has made evident the problem and several studies evaluated pathogenesis and implemented a targeted therapy. This review analyses POCD, delirium and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) definition, risk factors and physiopathology with an analysis on anaesthesia technique influence. Unlike the postoperative delirium, POCD is more difficult to diagnose because of several tests that must be administered in the pre and postoperative period, even at a distance of time. Furthermore adequate depth of anaesthesia, monitored with Bispectral Index (BIS) or Electroencephalography (EEG), reduces the cognitive dysfunction incidence. Currently the pathogenesis is not well understood although neuro inflammation plays a central role while the importance of anaesthesia techniques has not established.
