Abstract:Objective To study the influence of enriched environment on perioperative mental status and cognitive function of patients with esophageal cancer. Methods A total of 80 patients with esophageal cancer from June 2015 to June 2016 in our hospitalwere randomly divided into enriched environment group (group EE, n = 40) and control group (group C, n = 40). Patients in enriched environment group received enriched environment after admission, while control group received routine nursing. Collected ZUNG’s depression self-assessment scale (SAS) and anxiety self-assessment scale (SDS) scores were recorded1 day before surgery and 3 and 7 days after surgery. Neuropsychological function test and concentration of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in peripheral blood 1 day before surgery and the 7 days after surgery were tested. Results SAS in both groups were obviously higher than national normon admission. SAS scores in group EE1 day before surgery and 3 and 7 days after surgery were significantly lower than those on admission (P < 0.05); the SDS scores 3 and 7 days after surgery were significantly lower than those on admission (P < 0.05); compared with control group, SAS scores on the 1st preoperative day and the 3rd and 7th postoperative days were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), SDS scores were significantly lower on the 7th postoperative day; compared with the norm, there were no significantly statistical differences in SDS scores on the 3rd and 7th postoperative days. On the 7th postoperative day, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly higher than baseline in two groups (P < 0.05), IL-6 and TNF-α in group C were higher than those in group EE. Conclusion Perioperative enriched environment may improve the anxiety and depression psychological state and reduce incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in esophageal cancer patients.