Brain injury due to lack of oxygen

  My mother lives in the New Orleans area and recently entered the hospital for knee surgery.  During her recovery from the surgery, she had difficulty in awakening from the anesthesia.  She has since awakened, but her brain does not seem to be functioning properly.
  Her ability to remember things is now very difficult.  She mixes up facts from one incident with the facts of one or more other memories.  Her speech pattern has slowed and during the therapy for her knees has difficulty in getting her muscles to respond.
  The neurologist has said that she may have experienced a lack of oxygen.  We have also heard that the drug ritalin may be able to help with her condition.
  Would you please let me know if this description sounds familiar to you and what we should be expecting the doctors to do for her.  Is there any information regarding the use of ritalin for this condition?
  Thank you for your help in this matter.
  John B.
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Thanks for your question.  The situation described in your message is indeed relatively common in elderly patients.  As one ages, there is frequently a degree of atrophy of the brain tissue, which make it more susceptible to transient insults, such as episodic hypoperfusion or hypooxigenation.  However, it is important in your mother's case to clearly establish whether or not she had an actual stroke.  If she did have a stroke during or immediately after the surgery, it would be advisable to properly evaluate for other stroke risks, such as cardiac
arrythmias, narrowing of major neck arteries that perfuse the brain, etc.
If she did not have a stroke and there is a mild degree of brain atrophy due to her age, bromocriptine is one of medications that might be helpful in enhancing her cognitive abilities.
I hope this information is helpful.  Best of luck.
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