![]() ![]() Owing to known effects of general anesthesia in cognitive impairment, a number of studies have argued on substituting general anesthesia with regional anesthesia. Alterations in gene expression after general anesthesia is also reported to lead to neuroplasticity. A recent study has indicated that decrease in glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor leads to neuroinflammation in animal model and can cause memory dysfunction. Furthermore, cyclooxygenase-2 is increased in response to cerebral injury in ischemia and can lead to memory disturbances. The role of proinflammatory cytokines has been chiefly suggested to cause POCD such as increase in IL-6 levels. Įxposure to anesthetics like nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and midazolam can impair memory and are known to have neurogenerative effects. The incidence of POCD can be 16–59% following 7 days of the surgery and 12–34% following 12 weeks postoperatively. Other factors that can influence POCD include hypoxemia, preoperative pain and impaired neurological function, metabolic disturbance and certain types of anesthetic agents and surgeries. It is more common in elderly population and is associated with the reduction in quality of life( 3). Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is described as the loss of memory, concentration, language, learning and other daily activities following the surgery under regional or general anesthesia. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |