Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of psychological intervention on postoperative cognitive function and anxiety in elderly patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods Fifty patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery under general anesthesia were selected. They were aged 65-75 years and at ASA grade I-II, and divided into an observation group (group C) and a psychological intervention group (group I) by the random number table method with 25 cases in each group. The patients in the group C underwent routine preoperative visit and postoperative follow-up, and those in the group I received simultaneous psychological intervention before operation, after entering the operation room, after wakefulness, and during follow-up on the 2nd and 5th d after operation. BP and HR were recorded 2 d before operation, 5 min after the patients entering the operating room,immediately before induction of anesthesia, at the time of incision, 2 h after incision, at the end of surgery, at the time of extubation, 1 d after surgery, 3 d after surgery and 7 d after surgery. The score of Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was recorded 2 d before operation, after entering the operating room, 7 d after surgery and 2 w after surgery. The blood samples were collected from the patients 2 d before operation, 5 min before anesthesia induction, at the end of surgery, and 1, 2 and 3 d after surgery to determine the content of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The completion time of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score and Trail Making Test (TMT) was recorded 2 d before surgery, and 1, 3 and 7 d and 2 w after surgery. Results Compared with the group I, the SAS score of the group C significantly increased after entering the operating room, 7 d and 2 w after surgery with statistical differences (P < 0.05). Compared with the group I, the MMSE score of the group C was significantly reduced 1, 3 and 7 d after surgery (P < 0.05); and the TMT completion time of the group C was significantly prolonged 1, 3 and 7 d after surgery (P < 0.05). Compared with the group C, the blood level of NSE in the group I was significantly decreased 5 min before induction of anesthesia, at the end of surgery, and 1, 2 and 3 d after surgery (P < 0.05); the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in the group I was significantly decreased 1, 3 and 7 d after surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusions Perioperative psychological intervention can ameliorate anxiety status and reduce cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.