Impaired Cognitive Function After Isoflurane Versus Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Aged Patients

Objective To compare the cognitive function after isoflurane versus sevoflurane anesthesia in aged patients. Methods Sixty aged patients received abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups. Following the induction, isoflurane (group I) or sevoflurane (group II) was respectively inhaled to maintain anesthesia. The parameters of MAP, HR and the volume of infusion were recorded. Awaking time and extubation after operation were recorded. The postoperative mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and adverse events correlated to the anesthesia and analgesia were collected. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, bodyweight, duration of anesthesia and surgery (P0.05). The HR and the volume of infusion in group II were lower than those in group I (P0.05). Awaking time and extubation after operation in group II were shorter than that in group I. The MMSE in group I at the postoperative first day was better than that in group II. No significant difference was found in MMSE between the two groups on the preoperative and postoperative day 3. Conclusions Both isoflurane and sevoflurane may contribute to the postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged patients, but the recovery of influence caused by sevoflurane is faster than that caused by isoflurane.