Articles: general-anesthesia.
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Exposure to general anesthesia has been suggested as a possible cause of long-term cognitive impairment in elderly subjects. The present study reviews the literature in this field in order to describe postoperative cognitive impairment in elderly populations, to determine to what extent this may be attributed to anesthetic agents, and to consider evidence of a causal relationship between anesthesia and onset of senile dementia. ⋯ Incidence rates vary widely according to type of surgery, suggesting that factors other than anesthesia explain a significant proportion of the observed variance. Anesthesia appears to be associated with longerterm cognitive disorder and the acceleration of senile dementia, but only in a small number of cases, suggesting the existence of other interacting etiological factors.
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A high-risk patient is a challenge to the anaesthesiologist. If surgical intervention is indicated the perioperative anaesthesiological management has to be carefully adapted to the requirements of the patient. If the patient is classified a high-risk at the preoperative anaesthesiological assessment, the therapeutic management has to aim at optimizing the patient's preoperative physical status. ⋯ During the postoperative period each high-risk patient has to be observed in the intensive care unit to continue intraoperative monitoring and therapy. Patients at risk of postoperative myocardial ischaemia or infarction should be closely monitored for 3-5 days postoperatively. The perioperative risk of morbidity and mortality associated with elective surgical procedures has to be evaluated for each patient and the risk-benefit analysis discussed in a interdisciplinary dialogue involving the surgeon, the patient and the patient's family.