Anesthesia with propofol and sevoflurane on postoperative cognitive function of elderly patients undergoing general thoracic surgery

Abstract

This study is to analyze the effects and variations on cognitive function for elderly patients undergoing general thoracic surgery, who accepted the anesthesia with propofol and sevoflurane. A total of 500 elderly general thoracic surgical patients were selected randomly, all receiving the propofol anesthesia (Propofol group). Meanwhile, another totality of 500 patients in the same condition and period were selected and accepted the sevoflurane anesthesia (Sevoflurane group). Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and recovery quality after anesthesia were compared among the patients in both groups respectively at the time of pre-operation and 1 h, 6 h and 12 h after surgery. There was no statistic difference in preoperative MMES of patients in both two groups (P<0.05); while the results of postoperative MMSE showed that both Propofol group and Sevoflurane group had a certain statistical difference, and that in Propofol group was larger compared that in Sevoflurane group. Moreover, P<0.05 was obtained on comparing the MMSE at the time of 1h, 6h and 12h after surgery and that at pre-operation, revealing statistical significance. Either propofol or sevoflurane, to certain extent, can affect patients' cognitive function when they are applied in the general thoracic surgery for elderly patients. However, the influence of propofol on cognitive function is relatively smaller, which presents a better application value.