The Perioperative Cognitive Anesthesia Network clinical service at University of Florida Health Shands Presurgical Center in Gainesville assesses cognitive function in older patients before knee replacement, hip and back surgeries, Gainesville.com details.
Here are four things to know about PeCAN:
1. The clinic, research and training program became operational in August 2017.
2. According to PeCAN's creator Catherine Price, PhD, at least 26 percent to 33 percent of surgical patients aged 65 years or older are cognitively compromised.
3. Currently, PeCAN has three phases:
- Phase one includes a clock-drawing test and three-word memory test. Patients who perform well continue their normal surgical routine; if a nurse feels a patient performed poorly, they consult the PeCAN clinic who assess the patient for a cognitive condition.
- Phase two occurs when the patient visits the PeCAN clinic and undergoes a 30-minute evaluation.
- Phase three is postoperative care.
4. Dr. Price hopes in the next five years that the third phase will include more patient follow-ups, greater collaboration with geriatricians and a larger analysis to attempt to predict who declines, improves or remains stable after surgery.
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