Objective To analyze the publication profile and research hotspots of studies at home and abroad on postoperative cognitive dysfunction by bibliometric methods.

Methods Literatures related to postoperative cognitive dysfunction published in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science databases from 2013 to 2023 were included, and statistical analysis was conducted by CiteSpace software.

Results A total of 2 705 Chinese literatures and 2 412 English core literatures were included. The number of literatures on postoperative cognitive dysfunction showed an annual increase from 2013 to 2023; China was the country with the highest number of publications internationally, with Capital Medical University ranking the top among Chinese institutions; domestically, postoperative cognitive dysfunction researches predominantly focused on clinical studies, while overseas researches emphasized pathological mechanisms and basic investigations. Research hotspot analysis revealed an enhanced interest in the inflammatory mechanisms and anesthetic aspects of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Conclusion From 2013 to 2023, the overall research at home and abroad interest in postoperative cognitive dysfunction has shown an upward trend, yet its pathophysiological mechanisms need further exploration. The risk factors for postoperative cognitive impairment and their correlations with anesthesia and mortality are being actively explored, and new methods for prevention and treatment such as percutaneous electrical stimulation are gradually emerging.