Post Operative Cognitive Dysfunction

On pump coronary revascularization is a very common leading cause for post-operative cognitive dysfunction regarding patient age grouping and diffuse systemic inflammatory response induced by bypass machine . Many factors are incriminated as pre-operative sleep disturbance, previous history of neurocognitive dysfunction. The accumulating evidence refers to an incidence between 20-40% with majority among geriatric population. The primary pathology is still elusive and many trials are under evaluation. Neuro-inflammation, hypo perfusion, fat emboli and reperfusion injury are among the most postulative aetiologias. The corner stone in the pathology of postoperative cognitive dysfunction is abnormal sleep rhythm. Intra-nasal insulin can provide neuroprotection via providing insulin growth factor and obtund neuronal apoptosis , while dexmedetomidine can antagonize neural-degeneration via regulation of systematic inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and NF-κB, inhibiting the expressions of Toll-like receptor , and through α2 adrenoceptor-mediated anti-inflammatory pathways

Aim of this trial is to define if Post-Operative Cognitive Dysfunction, detected analyzing changes between pre-operative and post-operative Neurocognitive Test, and Postoperative Delirium, relate to concentration of effector's site concentration of propofol and remifentanil TCI and to the common intraoperative neuromonitoring values as well as to Pupillometry values (in particular Pupil Diameter, Pupil Latency, and Maximum Contraction Velcoity).

Traditionally, general anesthesia is maintained with inhalational anesthesia (GAS), but there is a gap in knowledge regarding whether intravenous anesthesia (IV) can prevent deleterious postoperative outcomes in the geriatric surgical population. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether intravenous anesthesia (IV) leads to a decreased incidence of postoperative delirium (POD), postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), and functional decline, and improved patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in older adults undergoing non-cardiac surgery when compared to the standard inhalational anesthesia (GAS). This single-center, 1:1 randomized, double-blind (patient \& outcome assessor) clinical trial will compare inhalational vs. intravenous anesthesia on POD, POCD, functional status, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and blood-based biomarkers in older patients undergoing elective, inpatient, non-cardiac surgery. Upon enrollment, 260 women and men ≥ 70 years undergoing elective noncardiac surgery under general anesthesia will be randomized to 2 groups: TIVA or GAS.