Effect of Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride on Early Cognitive Function in Postoperative Elderly Patients

Purpose: to explore the effect of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on early cognitive function in postoperative elderly patients. Methods: during December 2015 to November 2016, 80 elderly patients who received surgical treatment in our hospital were selected as research object. Result: patients were randomly divided into two groups (control group and research group). On the basis of routine anesthetic induction, patients in research group took dexmedetomidine, in comparison, patients in control group took an equal dose of sodium chloride solution. The goal was to evaluate the anesthetic effect of those two methods. One hour before surgery, there was no significant difference in the MMSE score between the two groups (P＞0.05). In research group, the MMSE scores at postoperative 1d and 3d were (23.8 ± 2.4) and (27.1 ± 2.0) respectively. In control group, the MMSE scores at postoperative 1d and 3d were (20.5 ± 3.2) and (24.6 ± 3.4) respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in anesthesia time, awake time and extubation time between those two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion: using dexmedetomidine in elderly patients after surgery can protect early cognitive function and improve the prognosis.