Postoperative delirium is a common complication after surgery. The underlying pathophysiology
of this complication is unclear, however neuroinflammation and oxidative stress secondary to
surgery had shown to be the cause of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and delirium.
Erythropoietin represents non-erythropoietic effects of anti-inflammatory properties. The
aims of this study were to determine the role of erythropoietin toward the development of
postoperative delirium, in terms of changes in inflammatory reaction by affecting the innate
immunity in elderly patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty surgery.