Does perioperative covert stroke increase the risk of postoperative delirium and long-term neurocognitive decline in older patients having major noncardiac surgery?
Covert perioperative strokes are common (1 in 9) in older patients undergoing major noncardiac surgery and significantly increase the risk of postoperative delirium and neurocognitive decline.
Among patients aged 60 yr and older who had major noncardiac surgery, mainly intracranial, one in nine patients experienced a perioperative covert stroke. Covert strokes more than doubled the risk of postoperative delirium and long-term neurocognitive decline. Covert perioperative strokes are common and clinically meaningful.
Cui et al. (Thu,) studied this question.