Thickening of the macular layer of the eye’s retina is associated with a greater risk of postoperative delirium for older patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthetic, reveals a study published online in the open access journal General Psychiatry.
Postoperative delirium is one of the most common complications for older patients after surgery and can have profound implications for long-term health and wellbeing.
Patients with postoperative delirium require longer hospital stays and are more likely to require support at home to help with daily tasks such as washing, dressing, and eating or be discharged into a nursing home. They also face a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Although there are no simple tests to identify patients at risk of developing postoperative delirium,…