<
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/apr/24/the-hidden-long-term-risks-of-surgery-it-give-peoples-brains-a-hard-time>
"We have known for a long time that operations can have hidden consequences for
the brain. As far back as 1887, the
British Medical Journal published a paper
describing cases of delirium after surgery with anaesthesia. A century later,
scientists in the 1980s began to look at cases of older patients who had shown
a decline in memory and concentration after cardiac surgery, but it has only
been more recently that this has become apparent as a risk factor for all
over-65s who undergo surgery, especially when under deep sedation.
In the last 20 years, studies have shown that POCD symptoms can affect
everything from memory to attention, judgment and perception, and those with
pre-existing health conditions are especially vulnerable. One survey of
patients who received surgery to repair hip fractures found that those who
developed POCD had a poorer ability to function socially and carry out normal
activities such as writing, managing money or remembering lists, with a
tangible impact on their daily life.
At the moment, estimates suggest that the overall incidence of POCD in older
patients can be as high as 50-80% at discharge, 20-50% at six weeks and 10-30%
at six months post-surgery. Given that the NHS carries out about 5.1m
operations every year, a disproportionate number of which are in the over-65s,
Cibelli says that there are a considerable number of patients being left with
lasting impairment."
Via Garry Knight.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
