Post-operative cognitive functions after general anesthesia with sevoflurane and desflurane in South Asian elderly.

Background: The duration of the recovery of cognition after anesthesia and surgery is multifactorial and is dependent on the type of anesthesia used, the type of surgery, and the patient. The present study compared the speed of recovery in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia with sevoflurane or desflurane and the incidence and duration of cognitive impairment in them.

Methods: The prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in Bangalore from November 2008 to March 2010.