Search

Background: Biological sex influences the risk of depression and cognitive impairment, but its role in relation to postoperative delirium is unclear. This analysis investigates sex differences in delirium risk after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and sex-related differences in relation to affective and cognitive symptoms., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Outcomes After Heart Surgery (NOAHS) study, a single-site, observational study of a CABG surgery cohort (n = 149). Preoperative characteristics are stratified by sex, and baseline variables that differ by sex are evaluated to understand whether sex modifies their relationships with delirium. We also evaluate sex differences in one-month depression and cognition., Results: Female sex is associated with several delirium risk factors, including higher risk of preoperative depression and middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. MCA stenosis was statistically associated with delirium only among women (OR 15.6, 95% CI 1.5, 164.4); mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was associated with delirium only in men (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.2, 17.9). Other sex-based differences failed to reach statistical significance. Depression remained commoner among women 1 month post-CABG., Conclusions: Women in this CABG cohort were more likely to have depression at baseline and 1 month postoperatively, as well as MCA stenosis and postoperative delirium. Sex might modify the relationship between post-CABG delirium and its risk factors including MCA stenosis and MCI. Cerebrovascular disease deserves study as a potential explanation linking female sex and a range of poor outcomes among women with coronary heart disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: Delirium is an under-recognized problem in critically ill children. Although delirium is common in adults hospitalized with COVID-19, the relationship between pediatric COVID-19 and delirium has not been described. To address this gap, we characterized delirium in critically ill children with different manifestations of COVID-19 and investigated associations among demographic, disease, and treatment factors. We hypothesized that multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) would be associated with a higher incidence of delirium given its underlying pathophysiology of hyperinflammation., Design: Retrospective, single-center cohort study., Setting: Quaternary-care pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)., Patients: Children less than 18 years of age hospitalized in the PICU between March 2020 and March 2023 with either active SARS-CoV-2 infection or serological evidence of prior infection., Measurements and Main Results: The cohort included 149 PICU hospitalizations among children with evidence of COVID-19. Patients were categorized by reason for PICU admission: 75 (50%) for COVID-19 respiratory disease, 36 (24%) MIS-C, and 38 (26%) any other primary reason with positive COVID-19 testing. Delirium was diagnosed in 43 (29%) patients. Delirium incidence was highest in patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (56% vs 7.5% in patients who did not require IMV, p  < .001). Patients who were exposed to opioids, dexmedetomidine, paralytics or benzodiazepines more frequently experienced delirium compared to those unexposed ( p  < .001, p  < .001, p  < .001 and p   =  .001, respectively). After multivariable adjustment, delirium was associated with IMV (HR 3 [95% CI 1.5-5.7]), female sex (HR 2.4 [1.2-4.7]), and developmental disability (HR 3.4 [95% CI 1-11.1]). There was no association between delirium and reason for PICU hospitalization., Conclusions: Delirium was common among children hospitalized with COVID-19. The overall incidence was much less than has been reported in adults with COVID-19. Delirium reduction efforts should focus on children with developmental disability and minimizing ongoing risks during IMV., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: This randomized controlled trial investigated whether the regional cerebral oxygenation saturation (rScO 2 )-guided lung-protective ventilation strategy could improve brain oxygen and reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients older than 65 years., Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 120 patients undergoing thoracic surgery who received one-lung ventilation (OLV). Patients were randomly assigned to the lung-protective ventilation group (PV group) or rScO 2 -oriented lung-protective ventilation group (TPV group). rScO 2 was recorded during the surgery, and the occurrence of POD was assessed., Results: The incidence of POD 3 days after surgery-the primary outcome-was significantly lower in the TPV group (23.3% versus 8.5%). Meanwhile, the levels of POD-related biological indicators (S100β, neuron-specific enolase, tumor necrosis factor-α) were lower in the TPV group. Considering the secondary outcomes, both groups exhibited a lower oxygenation index after OLV, whereas partial pressure of carbon dioxide and mean arterial pressure were significantly increased in the TPV group. In addition, minimum rScO 2 during surgery and mean rScO 2 were higher in the TPV group than in the PV group., Conclusion: Continuous intraoperative monitoring of brain tissue oxygenation and active intervention measures guided by cerebral oxygen saturation are critical for improving brain metabolism and reducing the risk of POD., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Purpose: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery are at high risk of delirium due to a variety of factors. This study aimed to identify the incidence of postoperative delirium in adult patients with cardiac surgery and its risk factors, such as characteristics of subjects, disease and treatment-related, as well as nursing-related characteristics. Methods: The study was performed on adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery at Y University Hospital in D city; a total of 195 patients met the inclusion criteria. Results: The results of this study determined that 67 of 195 adult cardiac surgery patients had postoperative delirium, 53.7% of which occurred in the ICU and 46.3% in the general ward. Risk factors of postoperative delirium were postoperative symptoms of inflammation (odds ratio [OR] = 10.18, p  = 0.002), continuous renal replacement therapy application after surgery (OR = 9.05, p  = 0.006), postoperative sleep disorder (OR = 8.98, p  < 0.001), age (OR = 6.23, p  = 0.006), length of stay in the ICU (OR = 3.83, p  = 0.031), history of stroke (OR = 3.71, p  = 0.033), the number of postoperative catheter retention (OR = 1.53, p  = 0.065), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ score (OR = 1.12, p  = 0.006), and time of operation (OR = 1.01, p  = 0.042). Conclusion: This study confirmed that after cardiac surgery, postoperative delirium occurred in patients during their ICU stay and after their transfer to a general ward. Considering that after cardiac surgery ICU-related factors affect the incidence of delirium in the general ward, there is a need for continuous monitoring of ICU-related factors after the patient gets transferred to a general ward., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Prior studies suggest associations between receipt of piperacillin-tazobactam and development of acute kidney injury and receipt of anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins and neurotoxicity. We compared clinically-relevant renal and neurologic outcomes in critically ill patients who received piperacillin-tazobactam versus anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Isotonic Solutions and Major Adverse Renal Events Trial examining patients who received piperacillin-tazobactam or an anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin within 24 h of intensive care unit admission. We performed multivariable analysis using a proportional odds model to examine the association between the first antibiotic received and the outcomes of Major Adverse Kidney Events within 30 days (MAKE30) and days alive and free of delirium and coma to day 28. Results: 3199 were included in the study; 2375 (74%) receiving piperacillin-tazobactam and 824 (26%) receiving anti-pseudomonal cephalosporin. After adjustment for prespecified confounders, initial receipt of piperacillin-tazobactam, compared to anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins, was not associated with higher incidence of MAKE30 (adjusted odds ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.83-1.27; P  = .80) but was associated with a greater number of days alive and free of delirium and coma (adjusted odds ratio, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.00-1.38; P  = .04). In a sensitivity analysis adjusting for baseline receipt of medications which may impact neuro function, this finding was not significant. Conclusion: Among critically ill adults, receipt of piperacillin-tazobactam was not associated with an increased incidence of death, renal replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction or a greater number of days alive and free of delirium and coma. Randomized trials are needed to inform the choice of antibiotics for empiric treatment infection in critically ill adults., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: It is known that patients with COVID-19 are at high risk of developing delirium. The aim of the study was to compare the incidence of delirium between critically ill patients with and without a diagnosis of COVID-19., Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in a southern Brazilian hospital from March 2020 to January 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: the COVID-19 group consisted of patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or serological tests who were admitted to specific ICUs. The non-COVID-19 group consisted of patients with other surgical and medical diagnoses who were admitted to non-COVID ICUs. All patients were evaluated daily using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). The two cohorts were compared in terms of the diagnosis of delirium., Results: Of the 649 patients who remained more than 48 h in the ICU, 523 were eligible for the study (COVID-19 group: 292, non-COVID-19 group: 231). There were 119 (22.7%) patients who had at least one episode of delirium, including 96 (32.9%) in the COVID-19 group and 23 (10.0%) in the non-COVID-19 group (odds ratio [OR] 4.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.69 to 7.26; p < 0.001). Among patients mechanically ventilated for two days or more, the incidence of delirium did not differ between groups (COVID-19: 89/211, 42.1% vs non-COVID-19: 19/47, 40.4%; p  =  0.82). Logistic regression showed that the duration of mechanical ventilation was the only independent factor associated with delirium (p  =  0.001)., Conclusion: COVID-19 can be associated with a higher incidence of delirium among critically ill patients, but there was no difference in this incidence between groups when mechanical ventilation lasted two days or more.

SummaryPerioperative neurocognitive disorders including postoperative delirium (POD) are common complications of anaesthesia and surgery, associated with morbidity, mortality and a large economic cost. Currently, limited data are available on the incidence of POD in the New Zealand population. The objective of this study was to utilise New Zealand national level datasets to identify the incidence of POD. Our primary outcome was defined as a diagnosis of delirium via ICD 9/10 coding within seven days of surgery. We also analysed demographic, anaesthetic and surgical characteristics. All adult patients undergoing any surgical intervention under sedation, regional, general or neuraxial anaesthesia were included, and patients who received surgical intervention under local anaesthetic infiltration alone were excluded. We reviewed ten years of patient admissions from 2007 to 2016. Our sample size was 2,249,910 patients. The incidence of POD was 1.9%, much lower than previously observed, potentially indicating significant under-reporting of POD in this national level database. With acknowledgement of the limitations of potential undercoding and under-reporting, we found that the incidence of POD was higher with increasing age, male sex, general anaesthesia, Māori ethnicity, increasing comorbidity, surgical severity and emergency surgery. A diagnosis of POD was associated with increased mortality and hospital length of stay. Our results highlight potential risk factors of POD and disparities in health outcomes in New Zealand. Additionally, these findings suggest systemic under-reporting of POD in national level datasets.

Objective: Corticosteroids can attenuate the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass, but their benefits on clinical outcomes are unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether corticosteroid therapy affects outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, EBSCO and Cochrane databases from 1 January 2010 to 14 March 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed corticosteroid versus non- corticosteroid therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were renal failure, infection, delirium, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay., Results: Four RCTs including 12,559 patients (6265 randomized to corticosteroid therapy and 6294 to non-corticosteroid therapy) were included. One-hundred and 92 of 6265 patients (3.1%) randomized to the corticosteroid group versus 221 of 6294 patients (3.5%) randomized to the non-corticosteroid group experienced death during hospitalization. Compared the control group, corticosteroid therapy did not significantly reduce in-hospital mortality, with an RR of 0.87 (0.72-1.06), p = .16. There was no difference in the incidence of infection (RR 0.78 (0.56-1.10), p = .16), delirium during hospitalization (RR 1.01 (0.90-1.14), p = .85), or the length of hospital stay (MD -0.13 (-0.32 to 0.05), p = .17). However, corticosteroid therapy significantly reduced the risk of renal failure ( RR 0.82 (0.67-0.99), p = .04), and the length of ICU stay (MD -0.41 (-0.65 to -0.17), p < .01)., Conclusions: Corticosteroids did not significantly reduce the rates of in-hospital mortality, infection, or delirium, but reduce the incidence of renal failure and the length of ICU stay.

Objective: The benefits of prophylactic dexmedetomidine use in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the short-term clinical outcomes of dexmedetomidine use versus non-dexmedetomidine use., Methods: Systematic searches using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were carried out for English articles published from inception to 23 September 2021. This was followed by a meta-analysis investigating delirium, the length of delirium, mortality, bradycardia, hypotension, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and the duration of mechanical ventilation., Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) totaling 2550 patients were included. In the dexmedetomidine group incidence of delirium was 13.5%, compared with 16.1% in the control group. The risk ratio (RR) for the comparison was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.47 - 1.00; p = .052). In addition, there were no differences in mortality (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.27 - 1.14; p = .109), the incidence of bradycardia (RR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.91 - 1.57; p = .201), the incidence of hypotension (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.57 - 1.44; p = .674), and the length of delirium mean difference (MD, -0.99; 95% CI, -2.20 to 0.21; p = .106). However, prophylactic dexmedetomidine use significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD, -2.03; 95% CI, -3.35 to -0.70; p = .003), length of ICU stay (MD, -3.17; 95% CI, -5.10 to -1.24; p = .001), and length of hospital stay (MD, -1.76; 95% CI, -2.88 to -0.66; p = .002)., Conclusions: Prophylactic dexmedetomidine use did not decrease the incidence of delirium in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and length of hospital stay.

Background: Post-stroke delirium (PSD) is a modifiable predictor for worse outcome in stroke. Knowledge of its risk factors would facilitate clinical management of affected patients, but recently updated national guidelines consider available evidence insufficient., Aims: The study aimed to establish risk factors for PSD incidence and duration using high-frequency screening., Methods: We prospectively investigated patients with ischemic stroke admitted within 24 h. Patients were screened twice daily for the presence of PSD throughout the treatment period. Sociodemographic, treatment-related, and neuroimaging characteristics were evaluated as predictors of either PSD incidence (odds ratios (OR)) or duration (PSD days/unit of the predictor, b ), using logistic and linear regression models, respectively., Results: PSD occurred in 55/141 patients (age = 73.8 ± 10.4 years, 61 female, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) = 6.4 ± 6.5). Age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.10), b  = 0.08 (95% CI = 0.04-0.13)), and male gender ( b  = 0.99 (95% CI = 0.05-1.93)) were significant non-modifiable risk factors. In a multivariable model adjusted for age and gender, presence of pain (OR < sub >  mvar  = 1.75 (95% CI = 1.12-2.74)), urinary catheter (OR < sub >  mvar   = 3.16 (95% CI = 1.10-9.14)) and post-stroke infection (PSI; OR < sub >  mvar   = 4.43 (95% CI = 1.09-18.01)) were predictors of PSD incidence. PSD duration was impacted by presence of pain ( b  < sub >  mvar  = 0.49 (95% CI = 0.19-0.81)), urinary catheter ( b  < sub >  mvar   = 1.03 (95% CI = 0.01-2.07)), intravenous line ( b  < sub >  mvar  = 0.36 (95% CI = 0.16-0.57)), and PSI ( b  < sub >  mvar  = 1.60 (95% CI = 0.42-2.78)). PSD (OR = 3.53 (95% CI = 1.48-5.57)) and PSI (OR = 5.29 (95% CI = 2.92-7.66)) independently predicted inferior NIHSS at discharge. Insular and basal ganglia lesions increased the PSD risk about four- to eight-fold., Discussion/conclusion: This study identified modifiable risk factors, the management of which might reduce the negative impact PSD has on outcome.

Objective: This study aimed at identifying the incidence, predictors, and impact on long-term mortality and dementia of early-onset delirium in a cohort of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage., Methods: We prospectively recruited consecutive patients in the Prognosis of InTra-Cerebral Hemorrhage (PITCH) cohort and analyzed incidence rate of early-onset delirium (i.e. during the first seven days after intracerebral hemorrhage onset) with a competing risk model. We used a multivariable Fine-Gray model to identify baseline predictors, a Cox regression model to study its impact on the long-term mortality risk, and a Fine-Gray model adjusted for pre-specified confounders to analyze its impact on new-onset dementia., Results: The study population consisted of 248 patients (mean age 70 years, 54% males). Early-onset delirium incidence rate was 29.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 24.3-35.6). Multivariate analysis showed that pre-existing dementia (subhazard ratio (SHR) 2.08, 95%CI 1.32-3.32, p = 0.002), heavy alcohol intake (SHR 1.79, 95%CI 1.13-2.82, p = 0.013), and intracerebral hemorrhage lobar location (SHR 1.56, 95%CI 1.01-2.42, p = 0.049) independently predicted early-onset delirium. Median follow-up was 9.5 years. Early-onset delirium was associated with higher mortality rates during the first five years of follow-up (HR 1.52, 95%CI 1.00-2.31, p = 0.049), but did not predict new-onset dementia (SHR 1.31, 95%CI 0.60-2.87)., Conclusion: Early-onset delirium is a frequent complication after intracerebral hemorrhage; it is associated with markers of pre-existing brain vulnerability and with higher mortality risk, but not with higher dementia rates during long-term follow-up.

Objective: Delirium is an increasingly recognized hospital complication associated with poorer outcomes in critically ill children. We aimed to evaluate risk factors for screening positive for delirium in children admitted to a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) and to examine the association between duration of positive screening and in-hospital outcomes., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study in a single-center quaternary pediatric hospital CICU evaluating children admitted from March 2014-October 2016 and screened for delirium using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Statistical analysis used multivariable logistic and linear regression., Results: Among 942 patients with screening data (98% of all admissions), 67% of patients screened positive for delirium. On univariate analysis, screening positive was associated with younger age, single ventricle anatomy, duration of mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal life support, and surgical complexity, as well as higher average total daily doses of benzodiazepines, opioids, and dexmedetomidine. On multivariable analysis, screening positive for delirium was independently associated with age <2 years, duration of mechanical ventilation, and greater than the median daily doses of benzodiazepine and opioid. In addition to these factors, duration of screening positive was also independently associated with higher STAT category (3-5) or medical admission, organ failure, acute kidney injury (AKI), and higher dexmedetomidine exposure. Duration of positive delirium screening was associated with both increased CICU and hospital length of stay (each additional day of positive screening was associated with a 3% longer CICU stay [95% CI = 1%-6%] and 2% longer hospital stay [95% CI = 0%-4%])., Conclusions: Screening positive for delirium is common in the pediatric CICU and is independently associated with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. Longer duration of mechanical ventilation and higher sedative doses are independent risk factors for screening positive for delirium. Efforts aimed at reducing these exposures may decrease the burden of delirium in this population.

Background: The prevalence of delirium and its association with long-term outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy have not yet been identified. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of delirium and its associated factors during hospitalization among ECMO survivors. We also examined whether the occurrence of delirium was associated with 1-year all-cause mortality among ECMO survivors. Methods: As a population-based cohort study, data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. Adults older than 18 years who received ECMO therapy between 2005 and 2018 were included in this study. ECMO survivors were defined as patients who were discharged from the hospital. Results: The analysis included a total of 8153 ECMO survivors, of whom 551 (6.8%) experienced delirium during hospitalization. Older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.02; P  = 0.004), male sex (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13-1.68; P = 0.002), underlying depression (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.49-2.41; P  < 0.001), and longer length of hospital stay (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02-1.03; P  < 0.001) were associated with a higher incidence of delirium. In multivariable Cox regression modeling, the occurrence of delirium was not significantly associated with the risk of 1-year all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.76-1.07; P  = 0.229). Conclusion: The prevalence of delirium among ECMO survivors during hospitalization was 6.8% in South Korea, and old age, male sex, longer duration of hospital stay, and underlying depression were associated with it. However, there was no significant association between delirium and 1-year all-cause mortality among ECMO survivors.

Objective: Delirium is a common problem in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and is associated with increased length of stay, cost and mortality. This study evaluated the relationship between noise pollution and delirium risk. Design: This is a Quality Improvement (QI) initiative at an academic PICU. Sound levels were monitored and patients were screened for delirium using the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD). Setting PICU Patients: All PICU patients Interventions: None Measurements and Main Results: Over the 83-week study period (2015-2017), the median [IQR] CAPD score was 8 [3 to 14]. Nursing compliance with the CAPD was 72.2%. The proportion of patients screening positive for delirium (CAPD ≥ 9) was 45.9%. A total of 329 711 hly decibel (dB) measurements were collected and reported. Occupied rooms were louder than unoccupied rooms (51.8 [51.6-51.9] dB vs. 49.8 [49.7-49.9] dB, respectively, p  < 0.001). Days (10 AM to 4 PM) were louder than nights (11 PM to 5 AM) (52.8 [52.7-53.0] dB vs. 50.7 [49.9-51.5] dB, respectively p  < 0.001) in occupied rooms. Winter (Nov-Feb) months were louder than summer (May-Aug) months (52.0 [51.8-52.3] dB vs. 51.5 [51.3-51.7] dB, respectively, p < 0.002) in occupied rooms. Median weekly nighttime noise levels and CAPD scores demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.6 ( p  < 0.001). Median weekly risk of mortality (ROM) and CAPD scores demonstrated a correlation coefficient of 0.15 ( p  < 0.01). Conclusions: Significant noise pollution exists in the PICU with a moderate correlation between nighttime noise levels and CAPD scores. This could potentially implicate noise pollution as a risk factor for the development of delirium.

Introduction: Postoperative delirium is common, with a reported incidence of 11% to 80% in critically ill patients. Delirium is an independent prognostic factor for poor hospital outcomes. Low vitamin D concentrations are associated with a decline in cognitive function. We therefore tested the hypothesis that low preoperative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with postoperative delirium in critically ill patients., Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adults in a surgical intensive care unit for at least 48 hours immediately after non-cardiac and non-neurosurgical operations at Cleveland Clinic between 2013 and 2018. Delirium was assessed by trained nurses using CAM-ICU twice daily for the initial 5 postoperative days. Any positive value was considered evidence of delirium. We assessed the association between 25(OH)D concentrations within a year before surgery and the incidence of postoperative delirium using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. A linear spline term with a knot at 30 ng/ml, the threshold for normal 25(OH)D concentration, was added to accommodate a nonlinear relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and delirium., Results: We included 632 patients, who had a mean (SD) 25(OH)D concentration of 25 (15) ng/ml; 55% (346/632) experienced delirium. We observed an adjusted odds ratio of 1.4 (95% CI: [1.1, 1.8], P = 0.01) for delirium per 10 ng/ml decrease in 25(OH)D concentrations when patients' 25(OH)D concentrations were less than 30 ng/ml. In patients whose 25(OH)D concentrations were at least 30 ng/ml, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.9 (95% CI: [0.7, 1.1], P = 0.36)., Conclusion: Preoperative 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with postoperative delirium in patients whose concentrations are below the normal threshold, but not at concentrations ≥30 ng/ml. A trial will be needed to determine whether the relationship is causal, and whether vitamin D supplementation before surgery might reduce the incidence of delirium.

Background: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are highly susceptible to developing delirium for a multitude of reasons. Previous studies have linked pre-existing depression with an increased risk of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. However, the evidence regarding the association between pre-existing psychiatric illnesses and delirium in ARDS patients is unknown. In this study, we aim to determine the relationship between pre-existing psychiatric illness and the risk of development of delirium amongst ARDS patients., Study Design and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of a mixed group of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between January 2016 and December 2019 with a diagnosis of ARDS per the Berlin definition. The study group was divided into 2 cohorts: subjects with delirium and subjects without delirium. Comparison between the 2 groups was conducted to examine the impact of pre-existing psychiatric illnesses including major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed adjusting for benzodiazepine use, sedatives, analgesics, sequential organ failure assessment score, and corticosteroid use to determine the association between pre-existing psychiatric disorders and delirium., Results: 286 patients with ARDS were identified; 124 (43%) of whom were diagnosed with ICU delirium. In patients diagnosed with ICU delirium, 49.2% were found to have preexisting psychiatric illnesses, compared to 34.0% without any preexisting psychiatric illness (OR = 1.94, P = 0.01). In a subgroup analysis of individual psychiatric illnesses, GAD and MDD were associated with the development of delirium (OR = 1.88, P = 0.04 and OR = 1.76, P = 0.05 respectively)., Interpretation: ARDS patients with preexisting psychiatric illnesses, particularly GAD and MDD are associated with an increased risk of developing ICU delirium. Clinicians should be aware of the effect of psychiatric co-morbidities on developing delirium in critically ill patients.

Background/objective: Data regarding delirium in patients presenting with infections of the central nervous system, such as meningitis and/or encephalitis (ME), are scarce. We aimed to determine the frequency and early predictors of delirium in the acute phase of ME., Methods: We assessed clinical, radiologic, and laboratory data of patients with ME at a Swiss academic medical center from 2011 to 2017. The highest Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) score was assessed within 24 hours around lumbar puncture. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of delirium (ICDSC ≥4)., Results: Among 330 patients with ME, infectious pathogens were identified in 41%. An ICDSC >1 was found in 28% with and 19% without identified infectious pathogens. Delirium was diagnosed in 18% with and 14% without infectious pathogens and significantly associated with prolonged in-hospital treatment and mechanical ventilation, more frequent administration of neuroleptics and anesthetics (in 96% with delirium vs 35% without), complications, and less recovery to premorbid functional baseline. Low serum albumin at presentation was the only independent predictor of delirium (area under the receiver-operating curve [AUROC] = 0.792) in patients with pathogens. In patients with infections, the AUROC was smallest for encephalitis (AUROC = 0.641) and larger for patients with meningeal infections (meningitis AUROC = 0.807; meningoencephalitis AUROC = 0.896)., Conclusions: Delirium in the context of ME is seen in almost every fifth patient and linked to prolonged treatment, complications, and incomplete recovery. Among clinical, radiologic, and laboratory parameters, the good calibration and discrimination of low albumin serum concentrations for the prediction of delirium in patients with ME seem promising, especially if meninges are affected.

Objective: The increasing number of spinal surgeries being performed in the elderly has increased the incidence of postoperative delirium. The prediction of delirium is complex, and few studies have been performed to examine the preoperative risk factors for delirium after spinal surgery in the elderly. This study was performed to clarify such risk factors in patients aged ≥75 years undergoing spinal surgery., Method: This retrospective observational study included 299 patients aged ≥75 years. Comorbidities, medication history, preoperative examination findings, surgery-related characteristics, and health scale assessments, including the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) score and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were examined as potential risk factors for delirium., Results: Delirium occurred in 53 patients (17.7%). The preoperative risk factors for delirium were a history of stroke and mental disorders, hypnotic drug use, malnutrition, hyponatremia, anemia, respiratory dysfunction, and cervical surgery. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent predictors of delirium were a history of stroke, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug use, preoperative hyponatremia, the PNI, and the SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) score., Conclusions: Independent preoperative predictors of delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery included a history of stroke, non-benzodiazepine hypnotic drug use, preoperative hyponatremia, the PNI, and the SF-36 PCS score.

Background: Agitation and delirium in critically ill patients after cardiac surgery carry poor in-hospital prognosis. Identifying risk factors may promote its prevention and management. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of agitation and hyperactive delirium in postcardiotomy patients during the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and to identify the risk factors for its development., Methods: This single center, retrospective study was conducted at Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University. Data were extracted from the prospective institutional registry database of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to predict risk factors., Results: A total of 170 consecutive adult patients underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2017. Ninety-four patients were included in the final analysis. The incidence of agitation and hyperactive delirium was 35% in our population of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-supported postcardiotomy patients. Agitation and delirium usually occurred within the first 3 days of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Multivariable analysis showed that history of previous stroke (without preoperative cognitive dysfunction; odds ratio, 4.425, 95% confidence interval: 1.171-16.716; p = 0.028) and mean arterial pressure reduction (before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation) ⩾ 49 mmHg (odds ratio, 7.570, 95% confidence interval: 2.366-24.219, p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for agitation and hyperactive delirium during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the prediction of agitation and hyperactive delirium was 0.704 (95% confidence interval 0.589-0.820, p = 0.001). There was more severe arrhythmia in the agitation patients., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the prevalence of agitation and hyperactive delirium in postcardiotomy patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is high. In addition, previous stroke and severe mean arterial pressure reduction before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation initiation is predictive of agitation and hyperactive delirium.

While end-of-life (EOL) care has been a relatively common option for patients with terminal cancer, the utilization of EOL care in Alzheimer disease and other dementias has become available more recently. By the time end-stage dementia is present, the clinicians and caregivers become faced with multiple clinical issues-their inability to provide subjective complaints of pain and discomfort, behavioral symptoms, delirium, food refusal, and so on. In addition to providing quality EOL care to the patients, clinicians need to work with their families in an open and empathic manner, assuring that their loved ones will receive supportive measures to keep them comfortable.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone compared with quetiapine for treatment of delirium in critically ill patients., Design: Prospective, observational cohort study., Setting: Single-center community teaching hospital., Patients: Forty adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with delirium (Confusion Assessment Method in the ICU positive), tolerating enteral nutrition, and without active alcohol withdrawal or prior use of atypical antipsychotics., Interventions: Patients were treated at the discretion of the prescriber with either lurasidone or quetiapine for delirium. Dose escalation and/or discontinuation were determined at the discretion of individual providers., Results: Baseline characteristics differed with a higher severity of illness in patients in the quetiapine group (n = 20) and a higher baseline QTc interval in the lurasidone group (n = 20). No significant difference was seen in the time to delirium resolution (3.2 vs 3.4 days), average daily haloperidol requirements (5.7 vs 6.9 mg), hospital length of stay (LOS; 23.6 vs 27.9 days), or ICU LOS (12.1 vs 14.2 days). Lurasidone was associated with fewer ventilator support days (4.0 [interquartile range, IQR: 2.3-6.8] days vs 7 [IQR: 4.0-9.8; P = .0295] days) but also a fewer number of delirium-free days (0 [IQR: 0-1.0] days vs 2 [IQR: 0-3.0; P = .0231] days). Additionally, no difference was seen for ICU mortality (20% vs 20%), percentage of time oversedated (2.8% vs 2.7%), or incidence of QTc prolongation (10.0% vs 10.0%)., Conclusions: Lurasidone for the treatment of delirium in critically ill patients did not differ in the time to delirium resolution when compared to quetiapine. Additionally, the incidence of QTc prolongation between agents does not appear to be different. Future randomized trials should evaluate dose escalation schemes and a larger proportion of patients to evaluate differences in mortality, efficacy, and life-threatening arrhythmias associated with atypical antipsychotic use.

This study examined the effects of pain and opioid intakes on subsyndromal delirium in older adults who had joint replacement surgery. Delirium assessments of 53 older adults were completed on the first, second, and third days following joint replacement surgery using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Statistical relationships were analyzed using correlations and multiple regressions. Subsyndromal delirium developed in 68% ( n = 36) of participants. Pain was significantly related ( p < .05) to increased delirium symptoms after accounting for preoperative risk factors of comorbidity, cognitive status, fall history, and preoperative fasting times, whereas opioid intake was not significantly associated with increased delirium symptoms. Findings suggest older adults with increased pain levels are at higher risk for subsyndromal delirium as well as delirium after joint replacement surgery.

Background: Delirium is very common among patients with polytrauma, although no suitable means exist to feasibly reduce the incidence and duration of delirium in these patients. Recent reports have suggested that continuous intravenous (IV) infusions of dexmedetomidine, rather than benzodiazepine, be administered for sedation to reduce the duration of delirium in this population. However, serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels have not yet been investigated in polytrauma patients who received sedation with dexmedetomidine rather than other conventional sedatives. The aim of this study was to assess the association of blood BDNF, NSE, and S100B with the occurrence of delirium among polytrauma patients who had been sedated with dexmedetomidine., Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment study groups, namely the "dexmedetomidine group" or the "common group." This case-control study included 18 patients with delirium and 34 matched controls in a 63-bed general intensive care unit (ICU). Blood samples were collected from all patients upon ICU admission, on the day when delirium was diagnosed, and on days 3 and 5 following diagnosis. The serum levels of S100B, BDNF, and NSE were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The sedation levels and delirium were assessed using the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale and the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU., Results: The median BDNF, NSE, and S100B concentrations were significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the common group on the day when delirium was diagnosed and on the third day after delirium was diagnosed. The rate of delirium was significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the common group. There were clear differences in the BDNF, NSE, and S100B levels between the 2 groups on the fifth day after delirium was diagnosed., Conclusions: Our randomized controlled study suggests that the sedation of polytrauma patients with dexmedetomidine could help reduce the serum BDNF, S100B, and NSE levels, which appear to be associated with the occurrence of delirium in the dexmedetomidine group.

Objectives:: Noise pollution in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) contributes to poor sleep and may increase risk of developing delirium. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends <45 decibels (dB) in hospital environments. The objectives are to assess the degree of PICU noise pollution, to develop a delirium bundle targeted at reducing noise, and to assess the effect of the bundle on nocturnal noise pollution., Methods:: This is a QI initiative at an academic PICU. Thirty-five sound sensors were installed in patient bed spaces, hallways, and common areas. The pediatric delirium bundle was implemented in 8 pilot patients (40 patient ICU days) while 108 non-pilot patients received usual care over a 28-day period., Results:: A total of 20,609 hourly dB readings were collected. Hourly minimum, average, and maximum dB of all occupied bed spaces demonstrated medians [interquartile range] of 48.0 [39.0-53.0], 52.8 [48.1-56.2] and 67.0 [63.5-70.5] dB, respectively. Bed spaces were louder during the day (10AM to 4PM) than at night (11PM to 5AM) (53.5 [49.0-56.8] vs. 51.3 [46.0-55.3] dB, P < 0.01). Pilot patient rooms were significantly quieter than non-pilot patient rooms at night (n=210, 45.3 [39.7-55.9]) vs. n=1841, 51.2 [46.9-54.8] dB, P < 0.01). The pilot rooms compliant with the bundle had the lowest hourly nighttime average dB (44.1 [38.5-55.5])., Conclusions:: Substantial noise pollution exists in our PICU, and utilizing the pediatric delirium bundle led to a significant noise reduction that can be perceived as half the loudness with hourly nighttime average dB meeting the EPA standards when compliant with the bundle.

Objective:: Intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired delirium has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Prevention strategies including modification of delirium risk factors are emphasized by practice guidelines. No study has specifically evaluated modifiable delirium risk factors in trauma ICU patients. Our goal was to evaluate modifiable risk factors for delirium among trauma patients admitted to the ICU., Design:: Prospective observational study., Setting:: Two level 1 trauma ICU centers., Patients:: Patients 18 years of age or older admitted for trauma including mild to moderate traumatic brain injury were eligible for the study., Interventions and Measurements:: Delirium was assessed daily using the confusion assessment method for the ICU (CAM-ICU). The effect of modifiable risk factors was assessed using multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for severity of illness and significant nonmodifiable risk factors., Main Results:: A total of 58 of 150 recruited patients (38.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 30.9-46.5) screened positive for delirium during ICU stay. When adjusting for significant nonmodifiable risk factors, physical restraints (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.07-4.24) and active infection or sepsis (HR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.18-3.81) significantly increased the risk of delirium, whereas opioids (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.98), episodes of hypoxia (HR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.31-0.95), access to a television/radio in the room (HR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11-0.62), and number of hours mobilized per day (HR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.68-0.88) were associated with significantly less risk of delirium., Conclusion:: We have identified modifiable risk factors for delirium. Future studies should aim at implementing strategies to modify these risk factors and evaluate their impact on the risk of delirium.

Introduction: Postoperative delirium is the most common neurological complication of cardiac surgery. Hypoxia has been shown to increase the risk of postoperative delirium. The possibility to continuously monitor oxygen delivery (DO 2 ) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) offers an adequate approximation of the oxygen status in a patient. This study investigates the role of oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass in the incidence of postoperative delirium., Methods: Three hundred and fifty-seven adult patients who underwent normothermic coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery were included in this retrospective study. The nadir indexed DO 2 (DO 2 i) value on bypass, the total time under the critical DO 2 i level and the area under the curve (AUC) for critical DO 2 i were determined. Delirium was identified by the postoperative administration of haloperidol., Results: The mean nadir DO 2 i significantly differed, comparing the group of patients with postoperative delirium to the group without. Multivariate analysis only identified age, pre-existing cognitive impairment, preoperative kidney dysfunction and cross-clamp time as independent risk factors for delirium. The results also indicated that patients of older age were more sensitive to a declined DO 2 i., Conclusion: A low DO 2 i during cardiopulmonary bypass is significantly associated with the incidence of postoperative delirium in CABG patients. However, the role of DO 2 as an independent predictor of delirium could not be proven.

Objective To assess the efficacy of cerebrally monitoring the depth of anaesthesia in reducing postoperative cognitive dysfunction and postoperative delirium (POD). Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched following PRISMA statement guidelines. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing electroencephalogram-based and routine care-guided titration of anaesthesia in a systematic review. The risk estimate from each RCT was pooled in a meta-analysis. The primary outcome was POD and long-term cognitive dysfunction. Subgroup analyses were conducted for the subtypes of intervention group and surgery. We identified five RCTs with a total sample size of 2,868 and with bispectral index (BIS) or auditory evoked potential (AEP) as interventions. Results The odds ratio (OR) for POD and long-term cognitive decline was 0.51 (95%CI: 0.35-0.76) and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.49-0.97), respectively. Significant heterogeneity was identified in the POD data. There was no significant difference between BIS- and AEP-based titration of anaesthesia in reducing the risk of POD. Extensive heterogeneity for cardiac and thoracic surgery was identified in the study population, and significant publication bias was found among the POD results. Conclusions BIS- and AEP-guided anaesthesia are associated with significantly reduced risk of POD and long-term cognitive dysfunction.

Objective Delirium in critically ill patients is considered a risk factor for various long-term consequences. We evaluated delirium and associated long-term outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome with non-H1N1 and H1N1- associated severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) who had been recommended to take antiviral drugs associated with delirious symptoms as adverse effects. Methods Of 64 patients, 42 survivors (H1N1, 15; non-H1N1, 27) were analyzed regarding the relationship between medication and the duration of delirium in the intensive care unit. During follow-up (n = 23), we assessed cognitive abilities, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physical capacity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Results The incidence of delirium was 88%. There was no difference in the incidence and duration of delirium between patients with H1N1 and non-H1N1 infection. The haloperidol and opioid doses were associated with a longer delirium duration. The delirium duration was correlated with reduced cognitive performance in motor skills, memory function, and learning efficiency. Patients with PTSD (16%) had a significantly longer delirium duration and low mental HRQoL. Conclusions H1N1 infection and corresponding antiviral medication had no impact on delirium. The duration of delirium in these patients was associated with impairments in various outcome parameters, illustrating the burden of sCAP.

We report varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gastritis in a 70-year-old woman postchemotherapy for lymphoma, presenting with abdominal pain, vomiting, and delirium without rash. A gastric biopsy demonstrated viral inclusions but posed a diagnostic challenge as immunohistochemistry for cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus were negative, and VZV immunohistochemistry was not available. The patient developed a vesicular rash 7 days after her symptoms began. Molecular testing of the gastric biopsy and a skin swab both confirmed VZV infection. She also had probable involvement of her liver and pancreas based on imaging and serum chemistry, and possible central nervous system involvement. She recovered with appropriate antiviral therapy but later developed a postherpetic neuralgia, and chronic intrahepatic biliary strictures; liver biopsy demonstrated a cholangiopathy of uncertain etiology. A literature review of the pathogenesis, epidemiology and sequelae of VZV infection is included.

Background: Despite the risk of drug-induced delirium, it is difficult to avoid the use of opioids in palliative care. However, no previous study has carefully investigated how the development of delirium varies among patients injected with different opioids for the first time., Objectives: To reveal the difference in the incidence of delirium between different opioids., Design: The incidence of delirium was compared among 114 patients who had started morphine, oxycodone, or fentanyl injection at Shizuoka Cancer Center between June 2012 and September 2014., Results: The incidence of delirium was 28.9% in the morphine group (n = 38), 19.5% in the oxycodone group (n = 41), and 8.6% in the fentanyl group (n = 35). There was a significant difference between the morphine and fentanyl groups (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.04) but not between the morphine and oxycodone groups (P = 0.43) nor between the oxycodone and fentanyl groups (P = 0.21)., Conclusions: The incidence of delirium after the commencement of fentanyl injection was significantly lower, suggesting that fentanyl is a useful opioid injection drug from the perspective of delirium risk.

Background Delirium is an acute change in mental status characterized by sudden onset, fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, and abnormal level of consciousness. The objective of the randomized controlled trial "A STrategy to Reduce the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients" (STRIDE) is to assess the effectiveness of light versus heavy sedation on delirium and other outcomes in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture repair surgery. Our goal is to describe the design considerations and lessons learned in planning and implementing the STRIDE trial. Methods Discussed are challenges encountered including (1) how to ensure that we quickly identify, assess the eligibility of, and randomize traumatic hip fracture patients; (2) how to implement interventions that involve continuous monitoring and adjustment during the surgery; and (3) how to measure and ascertain the primary outcome, delirium. Results To address the first challenge, we monitored the operating room schedule more actively than anticipated. We constructed and organized eligibility assessment data collection forms by purpose and by source of information needed to complete them. We decided that randomization needs to take place in the operating room. To address the second challenge, we designed and implemented a treatment protocol and covered the bispectral index monitor to prevent the Anesthesiologist/Anesthetist from being influenced by the bispectral index reading while administering the intervention. Finally, clinical assessment of delirium consisted of standardized interviews of the patient using validated instruments, interviews of those caring for the patient, and review of the medical record. A consensus panel made the final determination of a delirium diagnosis. We note that STRIDE is a single-center trial. The decisions we took may have different implications for multi-center trials. Conclusions Lessons learned are likely to provide useful information to others designing trials in emergency and surgical setting and for those who are interested in unbiased assessment of delirium.

Delirium, an acute state of mental confusion, can lead to many adverse sequelae in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Although the etiology of ICU delirium is often multifactorial, and at times not fully understood, sleep deprivation is considered to be a major contributing factor to its development. It has been postulated that administration of exogenous melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists such as ramelteon may prevent delirium by promoting nocturnal sleep in ICU patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the pharmacology of melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists and investigate their potential roles in sleep promotion and delirium prevention in ICU patients. Although few studies evaluating the impact of melatonergic agents on sleep and delirium in the ICU have been completed, some data suggest their potential positive effects on sleep and delirium. However, large-scale randomized controlled trials are warranted to determine the optimal role of melatonergic agents in the prevention of ICU delirium., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

To compare the efficacy of antipsychotics (APs) for delirium treatment in patients with cancer, 27 patients treated with 1 of the 4 APs, haloperidol (HPD), risperidone (RIS), olanzapine (OLZ), and quetiapine (QTP), were divided into 2 groups: long half-life (T1/2; HPD, RIS, and OLZ) versus short T1/2 (QTP) or the multiacting receptor-targeted APs (MARTAs; OLZ and QTP) versus the non-MARTA (HPD and RIS). The symptom severity was evaluated by the memorial delirium rating scale (MDAS) on days 0, 3, and 7 following intervention. Significant improvements in total MDAS scores were found in all groups on day 3. However, on day 7, only the short T1/2 group and MARTA group showed significant improvement. Consideration of an AP's pharmacological properties may be helpful for improving the outcomes of pharmacological delirium intervention in patients with cancer., (© The Author(s) 2014.)

Patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and undergo surgery may develop aggravated postoperative cognitive dysfunction or postoperative delirium. Many patients with DLB respond poorly to surgery and anesthesia, and their conditions may worsen if they have other medical complications along with dementia. They may also face high risk of prolonged hospital stay, increased medical problems and/or mortality, causing significant physical, psychosocial, and financial burdens on individuals, family members, and society. Anesthesia, pain medications, old age, and surgery-related stresses are usually held responsible for the complications; however, the exact causes are still not fully understood. Literature on surgery-related complications for patients with DLB appears to be inadequate, and hence the topic merits detailed and systematic research. This article reviews postoperative complications and various surgery-related risk factors for DLB in light of other dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, as their neuropathologic features overlap with those of DLB., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Neurologic injury in the form of cognitive decline, delirium, and stroke are common phenomena in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and continues to be one of the most common complication after cardiac surgery, in spite of improvements in mortality and and improved surgical and anesthetic techniques. These complications lead to a significant increase in length of stay in the intensive care unit, increased length of hospital admission, and functional impairment, resulting in not only profound negative effects on patients who experience these complications, but also to increased costs of medical care and delivery. We discuss each of these complications in regard to their risks factors, incidence, potential therapeutic modalities, and relevant intraoperative and postoperative considerations., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Background: Delirium is extremely common in dying patients and appears to be a major threat to the family's moral experience of a good death in end-of-life care., Aim: To illustrate one of the ways in which hospice caregivers conceptualize end-of-life delirium and the significance of this conceptualization for the relationships that they form with patients' families in the hospice setting., Design: Ethnography., Setting/participants: Ethnographic fieldwork was conducted at a nine-bed, freestanding residential hospice, located in a suburban community of Eastern Canada. Data collection methods included 15 months of participant observation, 28 semi-structured audio-recorded interviews with hospice caregivers, and document analysis., Results: Hospice caregivers draw on a culturally established framework of normal dying to help families come to terms with clinical end-of-life phenomena, including delirium. By offering explanations about delirium as a natural feature of the dying process, hospice caregivers strive to protect for families the integrity of the good death ideal., Conclusion: Within hospice culture, there is usefulness to deemphasizing delirium as a pathological neuropsychiatric complication, in favor of acknowledging delirious changes as signs of normal dying. This has implications for how we understand the role of nurses and other caregivers with respect to delirium assessment and care, which to date has focused largely on practices of screening and management., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Background: Limited information is available on the symptomatic complications that occur in the last days of life., Aim: We documented the frequency, clinical course, and survival for 25 symptomatic complications among patients admitted to acute palliative care units., Design: Prospective longitudinal observational study., Measurements: Their attending physician completed a daily structured assessment of symptomatic complications from admission to discharge or death., Setting/participants: We enrolled consecutive advanced cancer patients admitted to acute palliative care units at MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA, and Barretos Cancer Hospital, Brazil., Results: A total of 352 patients were enrolled (MD Anderson Cancer Center = 151, Barretos Cancer Hospital = 201). Delirium, pneumonia, and bowel obstruction were the most common complications, occurring in 43%, 20%, and 16% of patients on admission, and 70%, 46%, and 35% during the entire acute palliative care unit stay, respectively. Symptomatic improvement for delirium (36/246, 15%), pneumonia (52/161, 32%), and bowel obstruction (41/124, 33%) was low. Survival analysis revealed that delirium (p < 0.001), pneumonia (p = 0.003), peritonitis (p = 0.03), metabolic acidosis (p < 0.001), and upper gastrointestinal bleed (p = 0.03) were associated with worse survival. Greater number of symptomatic complications on admission was also associated with poorer survival (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Symptomatic complications were common in cancer patients admitted to acute palliative care units, often do not resolve completely, and were associated with a poor prognosis despite active medical management., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Isolated spinal artery aneurysms are exceedingly rare vascular lesions thought to be related to dissection of the arterial wall. We describe two cases presenting with spinal subarachnoid haemorrhage that underwent conservative management. In the first patient the radiculomedullary branch involved was feeding the anterior spinal artery at the level of D3 and thus, neither endovascular nor surgical approach was employed. Control angiography was performed at seven days and at three months, demonstrating complete resolution of the lesion. In our second case, neither the anterior spinal artery or the artery of Adamkiewicz could be identified during angiography, thus endovascular management was deemed contraindicated. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a stable lesion in the second patient. No rebleeding or other complications were seen. In comparison to intracranial aneurysms, spinal artery aneurysms tend to display a fusiform appearance and lack a clear neck in relation to the likely dissecting nature of the lesions. Due to the small number of cases reported, the natural history of these lesions is not well known making it difficult to establish the optimal treatment approach. Various management strategies may be supported, including surgical and endovascular treatment, but It would seem that a wait and see approach is also viable, with control angiogram and treatment decisions based on the evolution of the lesion.

Objective: We aimed to assess leaflet-based intervention effects on family-perceived distress, the need for improvements in professional care for delirium, and family knowledge of delirium causes., Methods: Leaflet-based intervention effects were assessed by comparing responses of family members given in the leaflet with those of a historical control group not receiving it., Results: Knowledge of delirium causes was significantly more likely to be correct in the intervention group, while there were no significant differences in family-perceived distress or need for improvements in professional care for delirium between the 2 groups., Conclusions: The leaflet providing information about delirium improved family knowledge of cancer delirium. To relieve family distress, a comprehensive program focused mainly on psychological aspects, in addition to educational intervention with this leaflet, is a promising strategy.

Objective: Melatonin is effective in the prevention and treatment of delirium. Ramelteon has few adverse effects and higher affinity for MT1 and MT2 receptors than melatonin. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of ramelteon in elderly patients with delirium caused by different primary diseases/conditions., Method: We treated 10 consecutive elderly patients having delirium with ramelteon., Results: Of the 10 patients, six showed improvement, and no marked adverse effects were observed., Conclusions: Our study suggested that ramelteon was a safe and useful alternative to melatonin for the treatment of delirium in elderly patients. Randomized, controlled studies are necessary to confirm the therapeutic benefits of ramelteon.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine whether postoperative delirium is associated with dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) responses following acute systemic inflammation., Methods: Plasma levels of cortisol, IGF-1, C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured before and after surgery in 101 patients ≥ 60 years without dementia undergoing elective hip arthroplasty. Participants were assessed with confusion assessment method and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision; DSM-IV-TR) postoperatively and 37 patients fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for delirium., Results: Preoperative plasma cortisol levels were similar in delirium and nondelirium groups (405.37 ± 189.04 vs 461.83 ± 219.39; P = .22). Participants with delirium had higher postoperative cortisol levels (821.67 ± 367.17 vs 599.58 ± 214.94; P = .002) with enhanced postoperative elevation in relation to baseline (1.9- vs 1.5-fold; P = .004). The plasma levels of IGF1 did not differ in delirium and nondelirium groups before (18.12 ± 7.58 vs 16.8 ± 7.86; P = .477) and following surgery (13.39 ± 5.94 vs 11.12 ± 6.2; P = .639), but the levels increased in relation to baseline more frequently in patients who developed delirium (24.3% vs 7.8%; P = .034). The magnitude of postoperative cortisol elevation correlated with ΔIL-6 (P = .485; P = .002), ΔIL-8 (P = .429; P = .008), and ΔIL-10 (P = .544; P < .001) only in patients with delirium., Conclusions: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperresponsiveness and a less frequent suppression of the GH/IGF-1 axis in response to acute stress are possibly involved in delirium pathophysiology.

Delirium was described by Hippocrates over 2500 years ago and it remains an important clinical problem today. Work continues to improve definition, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but relatively young science remains. Delirium affects 12,500,000 patients and costs $152,000,000,000 every year. Up to 80% of mechanically ventilated patients experience delirium, which exists as a spectrum of acute brain organ dysfunction. Multiple theories exist, including contribution from baseline pathology, medications, surgical inflammation, and environment. Biochemical models point to pathophysiology. Delirium remains largely preventable through planning and subgroup identification. Validated objective assessment models aid diagnosis, whereas protocolized multimodal intervention remains best practice. Pharmacotherapy, as chemical restraint, is reserved for cases of potential harm to self or others. Observation obviates mechanical restraint. The contribution of delirium to cognitive decline remains controversial and concerning. As dollars shrink and cost does not, delirium becomes increasingly important. In an aging population of increasing frailty, delirium will contribute increasingly to long-term morbidity and even mortality.

Objectives: Delirium is a common poststroke complication, but its prevalence and effect in rehabilitation settings is unknown. We retrospectively assessed the prevalence of delirium in elderly patients undergoing poststroke rehabilitation and its association with short-term outcomes., Methods: All patients (aged ≥65 years) admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation between November 2007 and October 2011 after a recent stroke were screened for delirium. Delirium was diagnosed using the confusion assessment method. Multiple logistic regressions were used to evaluate the association between delirium, institutionalization, and inhospital death, while multiple linear regressions were used for the association between delirium and functional recovery, defined in 3 different ways which include (1) measuring the relative functional gain of the Barthel index (BI-RFG); (2) the change in Barthel index (BI) walking subscore from admission to discharge; and (3) the change in Tinetti score from admission to discharge., Results: In all, 58 (33%) patients of the total 176 patients were consecutively admitted to our department with delirium. After adjustment for potential confounders, poststroke delirium (PSD) was an independent predictor of institutionalization (odds ratio [OR] = 7.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.79 to 10.91; P ≤ .0003) and inhospital death (OR = 4.26; 95% CI = 1.15 to 15.81; P = .03); PSD was not a predictor of functional recovery at discharge, neither using the BI-RFG (P = .96) nor using the change from admission to discharge of both the BI walking subscore (P = .57) and the Tinetti score (P = .61) as outcome measures., Conclusions: In elderly patients undergoing poststroke rehabilitation, delirium is an independent predictor of institutionalization and inhospital death, but it does not affect functional recovery.

Pain is abundant in the intensive care unit (ICU). Successful analgesia demands a comprehensive appreciation for the etiologies of pain, vigilant clinical assessment, and personalized treatments. For the critically ill, frequent threats to mental and bodily integrity magnify the experience of pain, challenging clinicians to respond swiftly and thoughtfully. Because pain is difficult to predict and physiologic correlates are not specific, self-report remains the gold standard assessment. When communication is limited by intubation or cognitive deficits, behavioral pain scales prove useful. Patient-tailored analgesia aspires to mitigate suffering while optimizing alertness and cognitive capacity. Mindfulness of the neuropsychiatric features of pain helps the ICU clinician to clarify limits of traditional analgesia and identify alternative approaches to care. Armed with empirical data and clinical practice recommendations to better conceptualize, identify, and treat pain and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities, the authors (psychiatric consultants, by trade) reinforce holistic approaches to pain management in the ICU. After all, without attempts to understand and relieve suffering on all fronts, pain will remain undertreated.

The purpose of this study was to identify the post-cardiac surgery delirium risk factors and to evaluate clinical outcomes. Data on 90 patients with postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups by evaluating the severity of the delirium: light and moderate delirium group (n=74) and severe delirium group (n=16). We found that the rate of early post-cardiac surgery delirium was low (4.17%). We have determined that post-cardiac surgery delirium prolonged the length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by (8.4 (8.6)) and the hospital stay by (23.6 (13.0)) days. The patients had higher preoperative risk scores, their age was 71.5 (8.9) years, the body mass index was 28.8 (4.4) kg/m(2), the majority were male (72.2%), and the left ventricular ejection fraction was 46.1(11.9) %. Statistical analysis by multivariable logistic regression has indicated that increasing the dose of fentanyl administered during surgery over 1.4 mg also increased the possibility of developing a severe delirium (OR=29.4, CI 4.1-210.3) and longer aortic clamping time could be independently associated with severe postoperative delirium (OR=8.0, CI 1.7-37.2). After surgery, new atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes amounted to 53.3% and, after distinguishing the delirium severity groups, AF developed in the patients belonging to the severe delirium groups statistically significantly more frequently, 81.8 vs 47.3, where p=0.01. Our data suggest that early post-cardiac surgery delirium is not a common complication, but it prolonged the length of stay at the ICU and in the hospital. The delirium risk factors, such as longer aortic clamping time, the dose of fentanyl and new atrial fibrillation episodes occurring after cardiac surgery, are associated statistically significantly with the development of severe post-cardiac surgery delirium.

Terminal delirium is a common symptom that is frequently underdiagnosed in geriatric patients with cancer at end of life and is a major cause of distress for the patient as well as their family. This article explores the hyperactive and hypoactive delirium subtypes as well as the pathophysiology of terminal delirium and the theory of acetylcholine deficiency and dopamine excess. The causes for terminal delirium underdiagnosis as well as the causes of terminal delirium itself are identified. The use of the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is discussed as a means of delirium diagnosis and the Memorial Delirium Assessment scale (MDAS) is presented as a tool to measure its severity. Lastly, nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment measures are reviewed and an algorithm is presented to assist the clinician in the identification and management of terminal delirium.