The Impact of Volatile vs. Intravenous Anesthesia on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction

Abstract

This thesis reviews whether volatile anesthesia and propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia differ in their effects on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients. Some studies suggest that propofol-based anesthesia may reduce early cognitive decline in selected non-cardiac surgical settings, but results remain inconsistent across different patient populations and procedures. The findings indicate that anesthetic depth, neurophysiologic suppression, and perioperative management may influence postoperative cognitive outcomes more strongly than anesthetic agent alone. Postoperative cognitive dysfunction appears to be multifactorial and influenced by both patient-related and perioperative factors. Overall, anesthetic choice should be considered within a broader perioperative strategy for protecting cognitive function in elderly patients.