【Abstract】 Objective To explore the effects of remifentanil-sevoflurane and sufentanil- sevoflurane for general anesthesia on the early recovery of cognitive function in elderly patients postoperative period. Methods Sixty ASA physical Status Ⅰ～Ⅱpatients (aged 60～75 years) were randomly assigned to one of two study groups: remifentanil-sevoflurane(R group) and sufentanil-sevoflurane(S group) anesthesia. Induction of anesthesia was performed by administering sevoflurane constantly. Anaesthesia was induced either with remifentanil (1μg•kg-1) or sufentanil (0.3μg•kg-1) infusion, after loss of consciousness, rocuronium (0.9mg•kg-1) was administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Remifentanil and sufentanil were subsequently titrated to lower doses according to the clinical need defined as the minimal dose required to maintain MAP within 20% of baseline. Sevoflurane was administered at the discretion of the anaesthesiologist to keep the BIS between 40 and 50. To evaluate cognitive function the Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test（SOMCT）and Rancho Los Amigos Scale（RLAS） were administered to all patients in a double-blind procedure before surgery and at 1h , 3h , 6h and 24h after extubation( T0, T1, T2, T3, T4). Results There was no significant differences in SOMCT scores and RLAS GradeⅧ at baseline in the two groups. SOMCT scores were significantly reduced in both groups at T1, and recovered to the preoperative level at T2 in R group , but at T3 in S group(p<0.05). RLAS GradeⅧ were significantly reduced in both groups, at T1 23 patients in R group and 8 patients (27%) in the S group (p<0.05), whereas at T2 in R group 28 (77%) in R groupand 8 patients (27%) in the S group (p<0.05), whereas at T2 in R group 28 patients (50%) and 15 patients (50%) in the S group (p<0.05). At T3 and T4 after extubation the RLAS Grade was similar in the two groups. Conclusion These preliminary data show remifentanil- sevoflurane and sufentanil- sevoflurane can provide similar intraoperative haemodynamics and the time of extubation , though the early cognitive recovery is faster after use of remifentanil - sevoflurane than that of sufentanil- sevoflurane.