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What Is Post Operative Cognitive Decline?

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- You may not have ever heard of a medical condition called post operative cognitive decline.

In fact many physicians have not heard of it.

According to researchers presenting their work at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiology in San Diego, it is a real condition and probably as many as 15 percent of patients 60 and older will experience some memory or problem-solving declines within 3 months of surgery.

The concern is that we don't have any true way to measure it and are not certain who is more at risk and why.

Certainly this is not a reason to avoid important surgical procedures but it is a reason for people –especially over sixty—to talk with their physician about surgical and non surgical options. It is a reminder that all surgical procedures no matter how small have to be taken seriously.

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