Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2008 , Vol 11, Issue 3
POSTOPERATIVE COGNITIVE CHANGES IN ELDERLY
İstanbul Üniversitesi, Florence Nightingale Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu, Cerrahi Hastalıkları Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı, İSTANBUL Introduction: Cognitive condition is a important indication to determine the surgery tolerance ability of older patients. The study was performed as a descriptive to identify postoperative cognitive changes in older patients.

Materials and Method: The data were collected between January-June 2004 in wards of Orthopedics, Urology and General Surgery Department of Istanbul University CerrahpaÅŸa and Ä°stanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospitals. The study sample is formed of 120 persons selected with targeted sampling method. The data gathered are analysed using percentage calculations, chisquare (X2), ANOVA, t-test and Post Hoc significance test in SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Science) for Windows 6.0.

Results: It is determined that the scores gained by patients from total and all subgroups of SMMT are decreased on 1St and 3Rd days after surgery compared to preoperative period and however on the 5Th day it is determined that these scores are close to their preoperative level. The fact that the total SMMT scores and scores gained from other subgroups with the exception memory show a regression compared to preoperative period is found statistically highly significant (p=0.000).

Conclusion: Results demonstrate the importance determining cognitive functions of older patients in preoperative and postoperative period. Keywords : Old age, Surgery, Cognition, Standardized Mini Mental Test