title: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: current developments in mechanism and prevention.
abstract: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a subtle disorder of thought processes, which may influence isolated domains of cognition and has a significant impact on patient health. The reported incidence of POCD varies enormously due to lack of formal criteria for the assessment and diagnosis of POCD. The significant risk factors of developing POCD mainly include larger and more invasive operations, duration of anesthesia, advanced age, history of alcohol abuse, use of anticholinergic medications, and other factors. The release of cytokines due to the systemic stress response caused by anesthesia and surgical procedures might induce the changes of brain function and be involved in the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction. The strategies for management of POCD should be a multimodal approach involving close cooperation between the anesthesiologist, surgeon, geriatricians, and family members to promote early rehabilitation and avoid loss of independence in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Chaohu Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Chaohu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Shiqin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Institute, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xirong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Institute, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Chaohu Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Chaohu, Anhui, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xiaoqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yusheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Fuzhou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors