Objective:

To assess the relationship between intestinal barrier dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and cognitive impairment in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• 6.7% of patients developed POCD.
• POCD patients showed dysregulated gut-brain axis biomarkers and a sustained postoperative inflammatory response.
• Postoperative LBP (per 1 μg/mL increase; aOR = 1.08, 95%CI = 1.03–1.13, p = 0.001) and peak IL-6 (per 1 pg/mL increase; aOR = 1.02, 95%CI = 1.01–1.03, p < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for POCD.
• Higher preoperative MMSE scores (aOR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.73–0.99, p = 0.038) were protective against POCD.

Interpretation:

The study confirms an association between intestinal leakage, systemic inflammation, and POCD following cholecystectomy, highlighting LBP and IL-6 as biomarkers.

Limitations:

• The study was limited to a specific patient population undergoing cholecystectomy.
• Exclusion criteria may limit generalizability to broader surgical populations.

Conclusion:

The gut-brain axis plays a significant role in postoperative neuroinflammation, suggesting potential targets for POCD prevention and treatment.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.