Piracetam improves children's memory after general anaesthesia.
BACKGROUND
Surgery and anaesthesia may account for postoperative complications including cognitive impairment. The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of general anaesthetics on children's memory and effectiveness of piracetam for prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.


METHODS
The study included patients receiving different kinds of anaesthesia for various surgical procedures, randomly allocated to two groups. According to immediate postoperative treatment, the study group received intravenous piracetam 30 mg kg(-1) and the control group--placebo. The cognitive functions were examined preoperatively and within 10 consecutive postoperative days using the ten-word memory test.


RESULTS
The study group consisted of 123 children, the control one--of 127. Declines in memory indexes were observed in all anaesthetized patients. The most injured function was long-term memory. The intravenous administration of piracetam improved this cognitive function.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results confirm that general anaesthesia affects the memory function in children. Piracetam is effective for prevention of postoperative cognitive dysfunction after anaesthesia.
Fesenko
Ułbołgan A
UA
Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine. vfesenko@yahoo.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects; D013874:Thiopental / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000777:Anesthetics; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D007649:Ketamine; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D013874:Thiopental; D015742:Propofol; D010889:Piracetam