title: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the elderly.
abstract: Despite improvement in surgical techniques, anesthetic management, and intensive care, a significant number of elderly patients develop postoperative cognitive decline. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a postoperative memory or thinking impairment that has been corroborated by neuropsychological testing, for which increasing age is the leading risk factor. POCD is multifactorial in origin, but it remains unclear whether its occurrence is a result of surgery or general anesthesia. This article discusses the incidence, assessment, consequences, and prevention of POCD, as well as anesthetic strategies to improve cognitive outcome in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98104-8009, USA. ramaiahr@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramaiah
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003693:Delirium / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors