Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol is associated with a lower rate of postoperative delirium in comparison with sevoflurane anesthesia in elderly patients

Abstract

Study objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication of anesthesia. The incidence of POD in elderly patients ranges from 37% to 53%, and POD increases the morbidity and mortality of elderly patients. However, the effects of anesthetics on POD are not well known. The present study aimed to compare the incidence of POD resulting from propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia.

Design: Double-blind prospective study.

Setting: Operating room and postoperative recovery area.

Patients: Thirty patients in the sevoflurane anesthesia group and 29 in the propofol anesthesia group.

Measurements: Statistical analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel 2010 for Windows 7 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash). Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher exact test and Student t test.

Main results: The incidence of POD in the propofol anesthesia (6.9%) was significantly less than that observed in the sevoflurane anesthesia (26.7%; 038).

Conclusion: In comparison with sevoflurane anesthesia, propofol anesthesia is associated with a lower incidence of POD in elderly patients.

Keywords: Elderly patients; Postoperative delirium; Propofol; Sevoflurane.