Objectives: The cognitive level of anesthesia and recovery time after surgery is multifactorial and can vary according to the type of surgery, the type of anesthesia used and patient characteristics. We aimed to investigate the effect of deep and light anesthesia levels monitorisation on postoperative neurocognitive function.

Methods: The study included 42 patients who underwent thoracic surgery. The patients were divided into two groups as Light group (n=21) and Deep group (n=21). Patients were maintained with Desfluran with the levels of entropy in the form of 40±5 in the deep group and 60±5 in the light group. Blood samples for S100β and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were taken, preoperatively, 1 hour postoperatively and on the 7th day postoperatively.  Mini mental test was performed one day before and 7th day postoperatively.

Results: There was no difference between the groups in terms of the mini mental scores evaluated preoperatively and on the 7th postoperative day (p=0.116, p=0.198). Comparisons of S100β and NSE between the groups measured were similar. When compared within the groups; In the light group, the postoperative values of S100β and NSE were lower than preoperative values, whereas in Group D, the postoperative values showed an increase compared to the preoperative values. All these were not statistically different.

Conclusion: It was concluded that light anesthesia may have a positive effect on cognitive functions in patients with one lung ventilation.