Dementia and anethesia

[nohorn]

Is it true that older patients can develop dementia when having surgery and they are anethiasized?
I hope I spelled things correctly. Also, is it usually permanent if it does occur? I had never heard of this before but I ran across it on the internet. How common is it/

[Sqad]

I do not feel qualified to answer your question, so please take my answer withy that in mind.

There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that general anaesthesia in the elderly can initiate any one of the dementias.

However, there are reliable medical studies which show that if a patient already has a dementia, then having a general anaesthetic may make the pre-existing dementia worse.

[woofgang]

Like Sqad, i answer with reservations. My experience is empirical, many years of working in rehabilitation with older people, loads of hip replacements and surgically repaired fractures. As well as a worsening of pre existing and maybe unnoticed dementia, the following can also occur
Affected cognitive function due to slow clearance of anaesthesia...less common nowadays using modern drugs and techniques.
Affected cognitive function due to pain relief meds....usually wears off as meds are no longer needed.
Mini stroke as a result of the operation.
Affected cognitive function due to nutrition/ hydration issues. If someone is borderline dehydrated/malnourished then the interruption to normal intake caused by the surgery can cause problems. additionally if the person is is poorly hydrated and/or has low immune function, they may get a urine infection, the risk of this increases if they need to be catheterised. Symptoms of UTI mimic dementia but reverse when the UTI is treated.

This is why older people are often put on a simple drip before or after surgery or if they are admitted to hospital with other problems eg chest infection. Is a fast effective way of balancing blood sugar and body fluid and supporting kidney and bladder function.

[nohorn]

Thank you Squad and Woofgang; your insight is much appreciated!

[rowanwitch]

From nursing days
Post op confusion in elderly patients with no previous history is not common but does happen and if it occurs usually wears off within a few days the longest duration I saw was 5 days .. I saw a few but not so many that I would worry about an elderly relative having surgery I would be more concerned about a cerebral vascular accident (stroke) or pulmonary embolus than confusion.

..however after any major surgery where the patient has been on cardiac bypass confusion is very common and even has its own 'name' pump- head and can affect any age caused they think by micro emboli(clots)