Interleukin-6 and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Prediction of Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction after Orthopedic Surgery

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is associated with poor postoperative outcomes and these patients are at greater mortality risk compared to patients without neurocognitive decline. A prospective observational study involved 82 trauma patients undergone orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia. Perioperative cognitive assessment using neurocognitive tests and measurement of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were performed. At the 7th day after surgery 13 (15.8%) patients had criteria for POCD diagnosis. Comparisons between patients with or without POCD at 7 days after surgery showed significantly increase in serum levels of GFAP and IL-6 in patients displaying POCD at the end of surgery and 24 hours after surgery respectively.