Assessment of selected cognitive processes in elderly patients after urologic surgery

Abstract

Introduction: The issue of postoperative disorders of cognitive functions is a highly topical problem as more and more elderly people undergo medical treatments. Patients may lose the ability of assimilating information and their linguistic functions may deteriorate. Cognitive disorders may result in the temporary exclusion of the patient from social activity.

Aim: The purpose of the paper was to assess the incidence of certain cognitive disorders in the elderly after urological surgeries.

Material and methods: The study was conducted in a group of 218 patients aged over 65, male and female, after an urological surgery under different types of anesthesia. Standardized neuropsychological tests of cognitive functions were employed in the study.

Results: Analysis of the data showed that in the control group were obtained similar results in the study of the first and second. However, in the test group demonstrated a reduction cognitive function in all the tests in a second study.

Conclusions: The reduction of cognitive functions in the study group was observed in all the domains but it was the most marked in visual memory tests. Postoperative reduction of cognitive functions is correlated with the patient's age, education and mood. Postoperative reduction of cognitive functions is not correlated with the type of surgery, anesthesia and its duration.

Keywords: Cognitive decrease; Memory; Mood.