Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effect of goal-directed fluid therapy on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing colorectal carcinoma radical surgery. Methods 98 patients undergoing colorectal carcinoma radical surgery，were randomly divided into goal-directed fluid therapy group（GDFT group）and control group（Con group）by random sequences generated by SPSS 17.0，49 cases in each group.The radial artery puncture catheter was connected to the Vigileo-FloTrac system for monitoring stroke volume variation（SVV）.Fluid infusion was guided by goal-directed fluid therapy based on SVV in GDFT group.Conventional therapy was used in Con group.The MMSE score was assessed at 1 day before surgery，1 day，3 days，1 week，1 month，3 months and 6 months after surgery，and the postoperative cognitive dysfunction was diagnosed with 1SD principle.Peripheral venous blood was extracted at 1 day before surgery，1 day，3 days and 1 week after surgery for the detection of S100 immunoglobulin and neuron-specific enolase（NSE）. Results The incidence of POCD in the GDFT group at 1 day after surgery（30.6%/57.1%），3 days after surgery（28.6%/55.1%），1 week after surgery（22.4%/51.0%），1 month after surgery（16.7%/42.6%），3 months after surgery（17.4%/39.1%）〖JP3〗and 6 months after surgery（15.6%/36.4%） was significantly lower than that in the Con group，with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）.There was no statistically significant difference in S100 serum protein [（121.4±13.4）pg/ml and（122.3±11.6）pg/ml] and NSE [（6.8±1.1）ng/ml and（7.0±1.2）ng/ml] concentrations between the two groups at 1 day before surgery（P>0.05）.The concentration of S100 [（206.6±18.7）pg/ml and（231.5±17.3）pg/ml]，[（191.8±14.6）pg/ml and（217.9±15.8）pg/ml]，[（171.5±13.3）pg/ml and（195.7±16.2）pg/ml] and NSE [（19.4±1.6）ng/ml and（24.7±2.1）ng/ml]，[（17.3±1.8）ng/ml and（22.0±2.3）ng/ml]，[（15.9±1.8）ng/ml and（20.6±2.0）ng/ml] in the GDFT group at 1 day after surgery，3 days after surgery and 1 week after surgery was significantly lower than that in the Con group（P<0.05）. Conclusion Goal-directed fluid therapy can reduce the incidence of POCD in elderly patients undergoing colorectal carcinoma radical surgery within 6 months after surgery.

Key words: goal-directed fluid therapy, colorectal carcinoma radical surgery, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, elderly