Effects of anesthesia in elective surgery on the memory of the elderly

The effects of anesthesia in elective operations on the cognitive functioning of the elderly, was examined in 88 patients aged 60–90 years. These patients were assessed pre-operatively and at a week and three months post-operatively. Forty patients (44.5%) received general anesthesia and 48 (54.5%) received regional anesthesia. The results show no significant difference between the two anesthetic methods. Differences were noted in remote memory index between the three examination time periods. (In contrast to a later work, it was found that patients whose cognitive state had been low deteriorated more than others). The only differences found between younger and older patients were in remote, recent and immediate memory. One of the major conclusions was that the effects of the methods of anesthesia, general and regional, are no different in young and elderly patients.