Effects of stellate ganglion block on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal malignant tumor

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) on postoperative cognition dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing radical resection for malignant tumor. Methods: Herein, 40 patients undergoing radical reaction of gastrointestinal malignant tumor were randomly divided into two groups: Group S (preoperative SGB implementation) and Group C (control group). General anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia was performed in both groups. HR, MAP and SPO2 were recorded before general anesthesia induction (T1), immediately after tracheal intubation (T2), at surgery beginning (T3), 1 h after surgery beginning (T4), 2 h after surgery beginning (T5), at the end of surgery (T6), immediately after extubation (T7) and 30 min after transferring into the PACU (T8), respectively. Changes of electrolytes and blood glucose were recorded at T1, T4, T5 and T6. Plasma IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and S100-β concentrations were recorded at 1 day before surgery (T0), 1 day postoperatively (T9) and 3 day postoperatively (T10). Cognitive function was assessed at T0, T9, T10, 5 day postoperatively (T11) and 7 day postoperatively (T12) using the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. Results: Compared with Group C, Group S had significantly lower blood glucose levels at T5 and T6 (P < 0.05), lower IL-6 at T9 and S100-β at T9 and T10 (P < 0.05), lower IL-1 while higher IL-10 at T10 (P < 0.05), and higher MMSE scores at T9 and T10, with lower incidence of POCD (P < 0.05). Conclusion: SGB improves postoperative cognitive function and decreases the incidence of POCD in elderly patients undergoing radical resection for gastrointestinal malignant tumor.