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Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PoNCDs), such as postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction or decline can occur after surgery, especially in older patients. This significantly affects patient morbidity and surgical outcomes. Among various risk factors, recent studies have shown that preoperative frailty is associated with developing these conditions. Although the mechanisms underlying PoNCDs remain unclear, neuroinflammation appears to play an important role in their development. For the prevention and treatment of PoNCDs, medication modification, a balanced diet, and prehabilitation and rehabilitation programs have been suggested. The risk of developing PoNCDs is thought to be lower in ambulatory patients. However, owing to technological advancements, an increasing number of older and sicker patients are undergoing more complex surgeries and are often not closely monitored after discharge. Therefore, equal attention should be paid to all patient populations. This article presents an overview of PoNCDs and highlights issues of particular interest for ambulatory surgery.

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) promotes the development of atherosclerosis, and studies suggest an association with age-related neurocognitive disorders. It is currently unclear whether ED is also associated with the risk of perioperative neurocognitive disorders. Method: We included 788 participants aged ≥ 65 years of the BioCog study. Patients were scheduled to undergo elective surgery with expected duration > 60 min. Blood was collected before surgery for measurement of 5 biomarkers of ED: asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA; SDMA), intercellular and vascular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), and von Willebrand factor (vWF). Patients were monitored for the occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD) daily until the 7th postoperative day. 537 (68.1%) patients returned for a 3-month follow-up. Post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) was defined from the change in results on a battery of 6 neuropsychological tests between baseline and 3 months, compared to the change in results of a control group during the 3-month interval. The associations of each of the 5 ED biomarkers with POD and POCD respectively were determined using multiple logistic regression analyses with adjustment for age, sex, surgery type, pre-morbid IQ, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, HbA1C, triglyceride, total and HDL cholesterol. Results: 19.8% of 788 patients developed POD; 10.1% of 537 patients had POCD at 3 months. Concentrations of ED biomarkers were not significantly associated with a POD. A higher VCAM-1 concentration was associated with a reduced POCD risk (adjusted odds ratio 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35–0.86). No further statistically significant results were found. Conclusion: Pre-operative concentrations of ED biomarkers were not associated with POD risk. We unexpectedly found higher VCAM-1 to be associated with a reduced POCD risk. Further studies are needed to evaluate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular disease can affect the quality of life and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) following cardiac operation. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate POCD along with underlying factors in patients after cardiac operation to improve the quality of life, duration of hospitalization, resulting in better prognosis with lower mortality rates. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 183 patients who underwent cardiac operation. In this study, patients completed the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) questionnaire about cognitive disorders before the operation and after recovery. Quality of life was also measured using the SF-36 questionnaire, which the patients completed before and 6 months after the operation. Results: This study showed a positive correlation in MMSE scores before and after the operation (P=0.006). Also, there was a significant decline in MMSE score after the operation (from 24.91 to 9.67). MMSE score decline after the operation was negatively related to smoking habit (P=0.011), time of hospitalization at ICU, cerebral oximetry indexes <50%, ejection fraction (EF) index <35% and on-pump blood pressure less than 50 mm Hg (P=0.00). Also, all eight items in the SF-36 questionnaire had improved significantly after the operation compared to counterpart items before the operation (P=0.001). We found no significant relationship between the demographic characteristics of patients and the SF-36 score. Conclusion: This study showed that the MMSE score declines after cardiac operation, and quality of life improves significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the predictive value of combined detection of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule- 1(VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) levels and mini mental state examination (MMSE) score for postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods A total of 200 elderly patients with hip fracture underwent surgical treatment were selected as the research objects. Patients were divided into the POD group (n=44) and the non-POD group (n=156) according to whether POD occurred within 3 days after operation. The clinical data of patients in the two groups were collected. The preoperative cognitive status was evaluated by MMSE, and serum levels of VCAM- 1 and PECAM-1 were detected before operation and 1st and 3rd day after operation. The differences of the above indexes between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between preoperative serum VCAM-1, PECAM-1 levels and MMSE score were analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was utilized to investigate influencing factors of POD in elderly patients underwent THA. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the predictive value of preoperative serum levels of VCAM-1 and PECAM-1, as well as MMSE score, both individually and in combination for POD in elderly patients undergoing THA. Results The age, hospital anxiety and depression scale score, incidence of intraoperative hypotension and postoperative hospital stay were significantly higher or longer in the POD group than those in the non-POD group, and the MMSE score was lower than that in the non-POD group (P＜0.05). The serum levels of VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 before operation, 1st and 3rd day after operation were increased in the POD group, and which were significantly higher than those in the non-POD group (P＜0.05). The serum levels of VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 were significantly negatively correlated with MMSE score in elderly patients undergoing THA (r=-0.390, -0.501, P＜0.01). The elevated serum levels of VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 before operation and prolonged postoperative hospital stay were independent risk factors for POD in elderly patients underwent THA, and the elevated value of MMSE score was independent protective factor (P＜0.05). Preoperative serum VCAM-1 (AUC=0.793, 95%CI: 0.730-0.847), PECAM-1 (AUC=0.799, 95%CI:0.736-0.852) and MMSE score (AUC=0.805, 95%CI: 0.744-0.858) showed high predictive value for POD in elderly patients underwent THA, and the combined detection of the three indicators had higher predictive efficiency. Conclusion The elevated serum levels of VCAM-1 and PECAM-1 are related to the impairment of cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing THA, and they are independent predictors for POD in elderly patients undergoing THA, thus may be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of POD . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaojun Tang, Yalan Li, Yong Lai Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chaojun Tang, Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. 613 West Huangpu Avenue, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-751-6926690, Email tangchaojungz@163.com Yalan Li, Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-751-6926690, Email liyalangzjn@163.comPurpose: This study aims to investigate whether dexmedetomidine could prevent postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium in patients with lobectomy.Patients and Methods: Patients with lung cancer who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anesthesia were enrolled in this study and divided into dexmedetomidine group or control group. Propensity-score match (PSM) was used to reduce the bias and imbalance of confounding variables. After PSM, 87 patients in each group were included. Primary outcomes were postoperative cognitive function and delirium. Secondary outcomes include plasma TNF-α, IL-6, and S100 β protein concentrations. Adverse events were also collected.Results: There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics and hemodynamic parameters between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the MoCA scores were significantly higher (P< 0.01), while the incidence of delirium (P< 0.01) and the plasma TNF-α (P< 0.01), IL-6 (P< 0.01), and S100 β protein (P< 0.01) concentrations were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group at 7 days post-operatively. The incidences of adverse events were similar between the two groups.Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine could prevent postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium in patients with lobectomy by decreasing neuroinflammation.Keywords: Dexmedetomidine, pneumonectomy, cognitive dysfunction, postoperative cognitive complications, inflammation

Background: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has demonstrated potential as an effective agent for enhancing early postoperative cognitive function. However, there is ongoing debate regarding its optimal dosage and impact on early postoperative inflammatory response. This study aimed to assess and prioritize the effects of varying doses of DEX on early postoperative cognitive function and inflammatory response, in order to identify the most effective intervention dosage. Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective cohort studies (RCS) from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to January 28, 2024, were included. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was utilized to assess the impact of varying doses of DEX on cognitive function during the early postoperative period as the primary outcome, peripheral blood levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were considered as secondary outcomes. Meta-analysis and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) were conducted using R. Funnel plots were generated using Stata 15.0. Results: A total of 29 studies involving 2,807 patients and 25 different doses of DEX were included. DEX was given at a loading dose of 0.3–1.0  μg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 0.1–0.5  μg/kg/h, or at a uniform intraoperative dose of 0.4–0.7  μg/kg/h. Network meta-analysis revealed most doses of DEX were significantly more effective than normal saline (NS) in improving postoperative MMSE scores (on days 1, 3, and 7) and lowering IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Probability results showed that a 1  μg/kg loading dose followed by a 0.6  μg/kg/h maintenance dose was the best dosing regimen for improving MMSE scores on postoperative days 1 (97.3%), 3 (100%), and 7 (99.9%), as well as for reducing postoperative blood IL-6 levels (1.3%). On the other hand, 0.3  μg/kg followed by 0.2  μg/kg/h was the optimal dosing regimen for reducing postoperative blood TNF-α levels (6.6%). Conclusion: Compared with NS, intraoperative intravenous DEX improved early postoperative cognitive function and postoperative inflammatory response in patients undergoing elective surgery. In particular, a 1  μg/kg loading dose and a 0.6  μg/kg/h maintenance dose resulted in the best improvement in postoperative MMSE scores and blood IL-6 levels, while a 0.3  μg/kg loading dose followed by a 0.2  μg/kg/h maintenance dose is the optimal regimen for lowering postoperative blood TNF-α levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PNDs) were the most common complication in elderly patients undergoing surgery. Early identification of risk factors for PNDs and implementation of preventive measures were critical to improve prognosis. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of preoperative frailty on PNDs in elderly surgical patients. Materials and Methods: Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. A fixed-effect model in RevMan5.3 software was conducted due to the low heterogeneity. The potential risk bias was assessed through Funnel plot and Egger's test. Sensitivity analysis was used to examine the robustness of the outcomes. Results: Sixteen cohort studies enrolling 4805 elderly patients were qualified for meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that preoperative frailty was linked to the development of PNDs (pooled odds ratio [OR]: 2.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05-2.80, P < 0.001) without obvious heterogeneity (P = 0.19, I² = 22%). Subgroup analyses revealed that the correlation between preoperative frailty and PNDs was more remarkable in prospective cohort studies (OR: 3.11, 95% CI: 2.47-3.91, P < 0.001) compared to retrospective cohort studies (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.57-2.39, P < 0.001; test for subgroup difference, P = 0.003). In addition, the correlation in patients with cardiac surgery (OR: 3.38, 95% CI: 2.44-4.68, P < 0.001) was more noticeable than noncardiac surgery (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.82-2.59, P < 0.001; test for subgroup difference P = 0.02). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that preoperative frailty was independently associated with PNDs in geriatric patients undergoing elective surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a serious surgical complication. We assessed the different POCD incidences between anesthesia using sevoflurane and sevoflurane combined with dexmedetomidine, with propofol-based sedation in elderly patients who underwent a thoracic surgical procedure. Methods: A total of 90 patients aged 65 to 80 years old who underwent a thoracic surgical procedure at our hospital and 15 nonsurgical participants as controls, were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided in a randomized 1:1:1 ratio into 3 groups. All participants were randomized into a trial with three anesthesia groups (P, PS, PSD) or a control group (C) of healthy matches. All trial groups received distinct anesthetic combinations during surgery, while controls mirrored patient criteria.Group P (propofol and remifentanil were maintained during the surgery), Group PS (propofol, remifentanil, and sevoflurane were maintained during the surgery), and Group PSD (propofol, remifentanil, sevoflurane, and dexmedetomidine were maintained during the surgery).All participants were rated using a series of cognitive assessment scales before and three days after surgery. All participants were interviewed over the telephone, 7 days, 30 days, and 90 days postoperatively. Results: POCD incidences in the PSD (combined anesthetization with propofol, sevoflurane, and dexmedetomidine) group was significantly lower than that in the PS (combined anesthetization with propofol and sevoflurane) group, 1 day post-surgery (10.0% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.008), and the results were consistent at 3 days post-surgery. When the patients were assessed 7 days, 30 days, and 90 days postoperatively, there was no significant difference in POCD incidence among the three groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of POCD one day after surgery showed that education level was negatively correlated with incidence of POCD (P = 0.018) and single lung ventilation time was positively correlated with incidence of POCD (P = 0.001). Conclusion: For elderly patients who underwent a thoracic surgical procedure, dexmedetomidine sedation shows an obvious advantage on improving short-term POCD incidence, which is caused by sevoflurane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]