The Effects of Inhalational Anesthetics on Memory and Cognitive Function

Park, Chong Min; Chae, Hyeon

Abstract

Many investigators have studied the effects of commonly used general anesthetic agents on CNS and found that a variety of congintive functions including psychomotor activity, assciative learning and short-term tasks were affected by anesthetice, and the ability of inhalstional anesthetics to depress or ebhance neuronal excitibility depends on the anesthetics, the anesthetic conectration, and particular brain region examined. To study the effects of inhalational snesthetics on meomory and congnitive function in human, we selected 123 patients scheduled for elective surgery, in ASA Phyaical Status Class I or II, for experimental group. But the patients undergoing a major surgery and with previous neuropsychiatrie history were excluded. As control group, 92 healthy volunteers were selected. Three tests Bender Gestalt Test, Trail Making B Test and Cognitive Cspacity Screening Examination-were performed on the properative day and the 4-5th postoperative day in experimental group. In control group these tests were performed tow times at the aame intervals. The mean performance ratos (II/ IX100) (i.e I is the score in the first examination and 3 id the score in the second examination)in experimental group were compared with those in control group. Results were as follows; 1. Bender Gestalt Test The mean performance ratios of control group 104.2+/-8.8 in man, 104.7+/-9.8 in woman and 104.5+/-9.4 in total control group. In experimental group they were 102.6+/-9.2 in man, 105.3+/-9.5 in woman and 104.9+/-9.2 in total experimental group. 2. Trail Making B Test The mean performance ratios of control group were 99.8+/-8.3 in ma, 97.6+/-10.0 in woman and 98.8+/-10.0 in total control group. In experimental group they were 99.2+/-13.5 in man, 97.9+/-14.0 in woman and 98.5+/-14.7 in total experimental group. 3. Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination The mean performance ratios of control group were 100.9+/-3.9 in man, 100.2+/-3.4 in woman snd 100.5+/-3.3 in total control group. In experimental group they were 99.4+/-2.1 in man, 101.6+/-3.7 in woman and 101.2+/-3.6 in total experimental The performance ratios of Congitive Capacity Sereening Examination in woman were signifi- cantly increased in experimental group, compared with control group. (p<0.05), but no differences were observed in total experimental group. The performance ratios of Bender Gestalt Test and Trail Making B Test in experimental group were increased more thatn those in control group but no statistical singificance was observed. According to these results we could confirm that inhalational anesthetics hsve no significant effects on memory and congnitive function.