The Effect of Low-Flow versus High-Flow Anesthesia on Postoperative Cognitive Functions in Geriatric Patients Undergoing TUR-P Surgery

Abstract

Introduction: This paper investigates the effect of low-flow anesthesia applications on postoperative cognitive function in geriatric age group (≥65 years old) patients who underwent elective transurethral resection of the prostate surgery. Materials and Method: A total of 98 patients aged 65 and over who underwent elective transurethral resection of the prostate surgery under general anesthesia between December 2021 and November 2022 in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Research Hospital’s Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation were included in the study. The patients were subjected to a mini mental test the day before the operation and postoperatively at six hours, one day, three days, and seven days. Visual analogue scale scores were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The data obtained were compared between the patient groups who underwent low-flow (1 L/min, n: 49) and high flow (4 L/min, n: 49) anesthesia. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A comparison between the postoperative 6thhour, 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, and 7th day mini mental testing scores of the low-flow anesthesia and high flow anesthesia groups did not exhibit any notable variations (p: 0.668, 0.785, 0.745, 0.705, respectively). The visual analogue scale scores of the cases at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours did not differ statistically according to the type of flow applied (p: 0.316, 0.925, 0.651, 0.548, 0.624, 0.466, respectively). Conclusion: It is thought that low-flow anesthesia can be applied safely, but it does not have a significant effect on cognitive functions compared to high flow anesthesia. Keywords: Anesthesia, General; Sevoflurane; Cognitive Dysfunction; Geriatrics.