Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/5/2007

Question
Hello. I work in an acute care gero-psych unit. I've heard so many family members complain that their parent was fine prior to surgery. They may had a little memory problems but still considered high functioning. a few weeks to a few months later after surgery and being put under, they had a decline in their memory, became easily agitated often times aggressive, delusional and paranoid. Is this consistant with those in the early stages of a dementia?  My dad is scheduled for a cyst removal and I want him to just have a local. He has had a few TIAs with the now possiblity of vascular dementia and a head injury 3 years ago from a CVA. He just started taking Namenda and I'm worried that he'll become worse following. Help.

Answer
Most of the psychoses are related to the hospital stay and not the anesthesia. There is no link that I am aware of between anesthesia and long term memory loss or dementia. Most anesthesiologists will do the minimum anesthetic necessary. So if your dad's surgery can be accomplished with local, they will probably recommend it, but don't worry about general, if that becomes necessary.

Ronald LEvy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston