Table 4.

MMSE scores of different groups.

Variables	Time points	Dexmedetomidine n = 24	Epidural blockade n = 24	Combined n = 24	Control n = 24	p-Value*
MMSE	Before surgery	27.3 ± 2.1	28.1 ± 1.7	27.8 ± 1.9	27.9 ± 1.8	0.527
	4 hours after surgery	22.7 ± 1.8c,d	21.3 ± 2.2c	25.3 ± 2.4a,b,d	20.1 ± 2.3a,c	<0.001
	12 hours after surgery	24.0 ± 1.6c,d	22.2 ± 2.2c	26.3 ± 1.8a,b,d	22.0 ± 1.8a,c	<0.001
	24 hours after surgery	25.9 ± 1.8b,c	23.7 ± 1.9a,c	27.5 ± 1.3a,b,d	24.1 ± 1.9c	<0.001
	48 hours after surgery	26.4 ± 1.9	24.9 ± 1.9c	27.6 ± 1.9b,d	25.0 ± 2.4c	<0.001
	7 days after surgery	26.7 ± 2.1	25.5 ± 1.6c	27.2 ± 1.6b,d	25.5 ± 2.1c	0.006

*: Mean  ±  SD: one-way analysis of variance. ^aP<0.05, compared with the dexmedetomidine group; ^bP<0.05, compared with epidural blockade group; ^cP<0.05, compared with combined group; ^dP<0.05, compared with control group.

MMSE, mini-mental state examination; SD, standard deviation.