Abstract
We examined the preoperative mental status of 41 patients aged 70 years or more, who were selected from among patients scheduled for surgery between February and Novem-ber 1987 in order to clarify whether this was associated with postoperative mental disturbance. Mental status was investigated on the preoperative round by the anesth-esiologist. 1) Degree of dementia using Hasegawa dementia scale. 2) Extent of daily living activities. 3) Past history of mental disorders, for example night delirium. The patients who had cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric diseases and neurological diseases were excluded.
Eight patients suffered postoperative mental disturbance (Group A), and 33 patients did not (Group B). Significant differences in preoperative mental status were found between these two groups. Group A showed a more severe degree of dementia, lower levels of daily living and many more patients had a past history of mental disorders than in Group B.
We conclude that examination of the preoperative mental status of aged patient can be useful for predicting occurrence of postoperative mental disturbance, and for helping to prevent this complication
