Apples for Health- Older patients face greatest surgical risk

Older patients face greatest surgical risk

DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A U.S. study determined that patients over the age of 60 are at greater risk for developing cognitive problems after undergoing elective surgeries.

Duke University Medical Center researchers said elderly patients who developed these postoperative cognitive problems were more likely to die in the first year after surgery.

"We have known that patients undergoing heart surgery are at risk for cognitive dysfunction -- problems with memory, concentration, processing of information -- but the effects of non-cardiac surgeries on brain function are not as well-understood," Dr. Terri Monk, an anesthesiologist at Duke and the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said Wednesday in a news release.

The study, published in the journal Anesthesiology, found that elderly patients were more than twice as likely to exhibit postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Monk said one hypothesis of the cause of this dysfunction is that surgery and the accompanying anesthesia might cause inflammation in the brain that can affect the patient's ability to learn, retain or remember information.

Friends of Apples for Health

Affordable Health Insurance - Free, no obligation quotes on affordable health insurance

Texas Vacation Rentals - Family oriented lake house and cabin rentals on secluded guest ranch.

Pond Supplies-Water Treatments, Algae control, Pumps, Filtersand other Maintenance Product