Association Between Oxidative Stress Markers and Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients Undergoing Oncologic Surgery.

Introduction: Postoperative delirium is a frequent complication associated with various types of surgery, particularly among older adults. It is thought that postoperative delirium is the result from an imbalance caused by the overproduction of free oxygen radicals.

Objective: To determine an oxidative stress marker that can predict the onset of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing laparoscopic urological surgery for malignant conditions.

Materials and methods: The study involved 29 male and female patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic radical surgery for localized kidney cancer between 2021 and 2024. Blood samples were collected at three intervals: before general anesthesia induction, immediately after surgery, and 24 hours postoperatively. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The occurrence of postoperative delirium was evaluated using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU).

Results: All cases of postoperative delirium emerged within the first seven days after surgery. Out of 29 patients, 11 developed postoperative delirium. Patients in the delirium group exhibited significantly higher malondialdehyde levels at the end of surgery compared to those without delirium (p<0.05). Additionally, superoxide dismutase levels measured before anesthesia induction differed significantly between the delirium and nondelirium groups (p<0.05). Also, glutathione peroxidase (GSH) at the end of surgery significantly decreased in delirium group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The likelihood of developing postoperative delirium in patients undergoing laparoscopic urological surgery for malignant conditions can be anticipated by evaluating oxidative stress markers levels.