Delirium is a sudden onset of acute confusion in which those affected are disoriented, have impaired attention, and experience altered perception -often accompanied by hallucinations or sleep disturbances. In cardiology, it is one of the most common but also one of the most underestimated complications. Older patients who have undergone cardiac surgery or interventional procedures … Read more
A large U.S. study suggests that older adults hospitalized with delirium may experience better outcomes when treated with trazodone, commonly used to treat depression and sleep problems, rather than commonly used antipsychotic medications. Delirium, a sudden state of confusion that often affects older adults during or after hospitalization, is frequently treated with medications despite limited … Read more
TOPLINE: Administration of dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium by 38% but was associated with an increased risk for hypotension. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 3904 patients undergoing any type of cardiac surgery. They compared the use of dexmedetomidine with … Read more
A recent retrospective analysis study indicated a correlation between preoperative anemia and likelihood of postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients after non-cardiac surgery.1 POD is a serious complication that affects up to 5% of general surgery patients, depending on type of surgery and patient population. POD is also increased with longer hospital or ICU stays, … Read more
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 … Read more