Abstract:

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction （POCD） is a common complication affecting elderly patients after anaesthesia. It is characterised by acute or persistent impairments of attention， learning and memory after surgery. This cognitive disorder can lead not only to an increase in postoperative complications and prolonged hospital stays， but also to an increased societal burden and waste of medical resources. Stellate ganglion block （SGB） is a commonly used nerve block technique in clinical practice. It works to block neural signals from stellate ganglion to control pain or treat certain conditions primarily by injecting local anaesthetics. This article summarises the mechanisms by which SGB improves POCD， focusing on the regulation of cerebral vasculature， oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. It aims to provide elderly patients with an approach to safer and more effective postoperative recovery and seek new therapies to alleviate the burden of POCD.

Key words: stellate ganglion block, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammatory