There are “negligible” long-term cognitive effects after major surgery during adulthood, new research has concluded (Anesthesiology 2016;124:312-321).
This finding should help bolster physicians when confronted with older patients balking at surgery out of fear that undergoing anesthesia will cause cognitive and memory issues—preoperative medical conditions and mental functioning likely play a more significant role.
“This study adds an important piece to the very complex