Intraoperative Diagnosis of Neurocognitive Complications Via Electroencephalographic Analysis

Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders (PND) are one of the most serious and common complications following surgery, especially in elderly patients. Postoperative neurocognitive disorders can impact cognitive functions for a prolonged period post-surgery, sometimes lasting several years. This not only deteriorates the quality of life but also increases hospitalization time and medical costs.

The difficulty in diagnosing postoperative neurocognitive disorders is that postoperative neurocognitive disorders can manifest in various forms, including memory, attention, and executive function problems. The lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and clear biomarkers complicates early identification and prognosis of postoperative neurocognitive disorders.

One of the most studied forms of postoperative neurocognitive disorders is postoperative delirium (POD). Currently, the concept of postoperative delirium development suggests a combination of predisposing and precipitating factors. Furthermore, according to the ICD-10, postoperative delirium is defined as an etiologically nonspecific organic cerebral syndrome characterized by disturbances in consciousness, attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behavior, emotions, and the sleep-wake cycle. The indication of an organic nature of the lesion prompts researchers to explore the possibility of diagnosing brain dysfunctions clinically manifesting as postoperative delirium.

Electroencephalography (EEG) has long been used in anesthesiology to assess the depth of anesthesia and the risk of awareness during surgery. With the use of modern analysis algorithms, such as spectral analysis and synchronization between different brain regions, electroencephalography opens new horizons for assessing the patient's neurophysiological state. Currently, the use of electroencephalography for monitoring cerebral perfusion and oxygenation is being studied, which is especially critical during cardiothoracic and neurosurgical operations. One study showed that a new interhemispheric similarity index in electroencephalography could serve as an indicator of the risk of complications such as intraoperative stroke and delirium after cardiac surgery. These data demonstrate the possibility of using electroencephalography monitoring as a tool for predicting adverse neurocognitive outcomes.

The relationship between electroencephalography and postoperative delirium has not been sufficiently studied. The hypothesis is that specific electroencephalography patterns may serve as indicators of the organic substrate development of postoperative delirium, which may lead to the study of risk factors and methods of their prevention. This, in turn, will allow anesthesiologists and surgeons to optimize approaches to anesthesia and surgical intervention, minimizing the risk of negative cognitive consequences.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Scheduled non-cardiac surgery of intermediate or high risk
• General anesthesia using inhalational anesthetics
• Informed consent from the patient to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Preoperative MMSE score less than 20 points
• History of any mental illness
• Use of psychotropic drugs within 1 month prior to inclusion in the study
• Presence of neuromuscular diseases
• Neurosurgical procedures
• Inability to undergo preoperative testing for any reason