Postoperative kognitive dysfunktion: Mögliche neuronale mechanismen und praktische konsequenzen für den klinischen alltag

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) presents as a long-lasting decline in cognitive function after a surgical procedure, predominantly occurring in elderly patients. The causes are most likely multifactorial with the exact mechanisms still unknown. Hypotheses of the causes of POCD are based on experimental evidence that anesthetics can impair mechanisms of learning and memory on a neuronal level and might lead to neurode-generation. Additionally, surgery can result in neuroinflammation which could also underlie POCD. The most important strategy to avoid POCD is to maintain the patient's physiological homeostasis perioperatively. According to the presently available clinical studies recommendations in favor or against certain anes-thesiological procedures cannot be given.