[Return of motor and mental functions following enflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia of 1.3 MAC in various age groups].

Recovery of motor and mental functions we investigated in 60 patients at different age ranges (Group 1: 20 young patients between 20 and 35 years; Group 2: 20 middle-aged patients between 40 and 55 years) after nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia in combination with enflurane of 1.3 MAC for lumbar nucleotomy. The following parameters were investigated before and up to 80 minutes after anaesthesia: simple and discriminating motor activities, the vigilance and the short and long term memory. In simple motor actions we noticed no significant differences between the three groups. By examination of discriminating motor activity, the functional capacity of Group 3 was significantly reduced in comparison to Groups 1 and 2. Nevertheless the efficiency in Group 2 was also decreased in comparison to Group 1. The postoperative vigilance was especially impaired in the elderly patients. Only 50% of the old patients were able to satisfy the asked requirements 60 minutes after extubation. The vigilance in Group 2 showed a better improvement compared to the elderly patients but was in comparison to the young patients significantly decreased. The long term memory of the old patients pointed out a considerable reduction after this kind of anaesthesia. While no distinct differences could be found between Group 1 and 2 40 minutes after extubation, a significant difference could be observed between Group 1 and 3 even after 60 minutes. The short term memory of the elderly and the middle-aged patients was considerably reduced 60 minutes after extubation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)