Effect of propofol and sevoflurane on surgical stress response and postoperative cognitive function in elderly breast carcinoma patients

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol and sevoflurane on surgical stress response and postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients. Methods Sixty elderly patients scheduled for breast carcinoma radical operation with general anesthesia were equally into propofol group and sevoflurane group. The surgical stress response postoperative mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the rate of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) were compared between the two groups. Results Blood cortisol of propofol groups decreased after 3 minutes of anesthesia induction(t=2.15,P0.05). Blood cortisol of sevoflurane groups rise throughout the anesthesia process(t=2.25, 2.13, 1.98, 2.99, 3.15,P0.05). Blood cortisol of sevoflurane groups were much higher than propofol groups(t=3.21, 2.95, 3.42, 3.55, 3.54,P0.05). Incidence of postoperative cognitive function: propofol group 6.70%, sevoflurane group 13.30%. There was significant difference(χ2=50.28,P0.05). Conclusions Compared with sevoflurane, propofol intravenous anesthesia is associated with rapid recovery of the cognitive function, and stable surgical stress response in elderly breast carcinoma patients.