Postoperative delirium and neurocognitive disorders

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Geriatric Medicine
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Postoperative neurocognitive disorders (NCD) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients.
• The spectrum includes postoperative delirium, delayed neurocognitive recovery, and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).
• Pathophysiology remains unclear, but focus is increasing on the aging surgical population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current understanding of postoperative neurocognitive disorders (NCD).
• To discuss potential management strategies for NCD.
• To highlight advancements in screening and research for NCD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of postoperative neurocognitive disorders.
• Analysis of current understanding and management approaches.
• Synthesis of recent findings on NCD spectrum and screening.

Main Results:

• Postoperative NCD encompass a spectrum from delirium to cognitive dysfunction.
• Novel screening methods are emerging.
• Research in prevention and management is gaining momentum.

Conclusions:

• Identifying at-risk patients is key for perioperative interventions.
• Specialized teams and standardized protocols are vital for managing perioperative NCD.
• Large-scale studies are needed to validate preventive and treatment strategies.