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Objective: To identify, appraise and synthesize current evidence on different sensory-based interventions on delirium prevention in critically ill patients., Data Sources: A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed in the PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang and WeiPu databases from inception to 2 June 2022. The data were updated on 24 December 2022. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD 42021254328)., Review Methods: Randomized controlled trials were included. Participants in the included studies were critically ill patients aged 18 years or older, and the interventions involved care by sensory-based intervention. And the outcome was the incidence of delirium rated by the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU Tool., Results: The 14 studies included in the systematic review indicated a reduction in the effectiveness of sensory-based intervention on the incidence of delirium. Subgroup analyses showed significant effects for auditory stimulation (OR, 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27-0.79; p = 0.005) and tactile stimulation (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.33-0.87; p = 0.01) but not for the effectiveness of visual intervention on the incidence of delirium (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.38-1.30; p = 0.27)., Conclusions: Sensory-based interventions significantly reduce the incidence of delirium in critical patients. It is suggested that when choosing sensory-based interventions, auditory intervention should be preferred., (© 2025 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: Critically ill patients frequently encounter disruptions in their circadian rhythms in the intensive care unit (ICU) environment. New lighting systems have been developed to enhance daytime light levels and to promote circadian alignment., Objectives: To investigate the impact of implementing an innovative lighting technology that mimics natural light and reproduce the colour of the sky., Design: Prospective, observational, non-randomized comparative trial. ICU patients were exposed to either a cutting-edge lighting system based on new technology (intervention group) or a conventional lighting system using fluorescent bulbs (control group)., Setting: An Italian intensive care unit with ten beds and five windowless rooms, thereby denying access to natural light. Three rooms had new lighting technology., Main Outcome Measures: The two groups were compared to assess the prevalence or absence of delirium and the need for sedatives during ICU stay. The secondary aim was to assess the presence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients at 3, 6, and 12 months after ICU discharge., Results: 86 patients were included: 52 (60 %) in the intervention group and 34 (40 %) in the control group. Seventy-nine patients (82 %) were alive at ICU discharge. Fourteen patients (16 %) developed delirium (intervention group: n = 8 [15 %] vs. control group: n = 6 [18 %] in the control group, (P=0.781). The use of sedative drugs and neuromuscular blocking agents was similar in both the groups. No differences in the incidence of anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorders were observed among patients who underwent follow-up visits., Conclusions: Compared to traditional fluorescent tube lighting, the innovative lighting system did not provide any significant benefit in reducing the frequency of delirium or the necessity for sedative medications., Implications for Clinical Practice: A single intervention, the use of lights that mimic sunny light and the sky, did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of delirium. Delirium has a multifactorial aetiology, necessitating interventions that are multifaceted and address different domains., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A strong association between frailty and in-hospital delirium in nonsurgical patients has been shown. Physical and cognitive frailties have been associated with decline and dysfunction in the frontal cognitive domains. Risk factors for frailty are similar to risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD). Frailty can be screened and diagnosed by various tools and instruments. Different anesthetic techniques have been studied to decrease the incidence of POD. However, no anesthetic technique has been conclusively proven to decrease the risk of POD. Patients with dementia develop delirium more often, and delirium is associated with accelerated cognitive decline., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Brain energy metabolism disorders, including glucose utilization disorders and abnormal insulin sensitivity, are linked to the pathogenesis of postoperative delirium. Intranasal insulin has shown significant benefits in improving glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity and cognitive function. However, its impact on postoperative delirium and insulin sensitivity biomarkers remains unknown., Aim: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate whether intranasal insulin reduces the incidence and severity of postoperative delirium (POD) in older patients undergoing joint replacement, and its effect on insulin sensitivity-related biomarkers., Methods: 212 older patients (≥65 years) were randomly assigned to receive either 40 IU of intranasal insulin (n=106) or a placebo (n=106) for 8 days. The primary objective was to determine the incidence and severity of POD within 5 days after surgery, estimated using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS)-98. The secondary objective was insulin sensitivity, which was assessed using the homeostasis model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and biomarkers, including total osteocalcin (tOC), uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)., Main Results: Compared to placebo, intranasal insulin significantly reduced the incidence of delirium within 5 days after surgery (8 [8.33%] vs 23 [23.23%], P = 0.004, odds ratio [OR] = 3.33 [95% CI 1.41-7.88]) and the severity of delirium (P<0.001). Intranasal insulin elevated the levels of tOC, ucOC, and BDNF in the CSF on D 0 (all P<0.001) and tOC levels in the plasma on D 0 , D 1 and D 3 (all P<0.001). It elevated ucOC levels in the plasma of the insulin group on D 0 but not on D 1 and D 3 (all P<0.001). Intranasal insulin administration reduced the HOMA-IR on D 3 (P=0.002)., Conclusion: Intranasal insulin notably reduced the incidence and severity of POD in older patients undergoing joint replacement, which may be related to the elevation in osteocalcin and BDNF levels., Trial Registry Numbers: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300068073)., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work. This paper has been partly uploaded to Medrxiv as a preprint: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.02.24309290v1., (© 2025 Yang et al.)

New onset insomnia is often experienced by patients during hospitalization due to environmental disruptions, pain and increased patient care activities. Patient distress arising from poor sleep quality and quantity often results in the prescribing of hypnotics. Melatonin use in hospital settings is common and is increasingly used for off label indications including primary insomnia in those aged < 55 years, prevention of delirium and to facilitate benzodiazepine discontinuation. A literature review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, tolerability, and cost-effectiveness of melatonin for various off-label indications in inpatient hospital settings. The review found limited high quality evidence demonstrating a clinically meaningful benefit from melatonin in improving sleep, delirium, or facilitating benzodiazepine discontinuation in the inpatient setting. Study findings were inconsistent, and those that did show statistical improvement were of uncertain clinical benefit. The review also found a paucity of data on the safety of melatonin when used in hospitalized patients, and no evidence to support cost-effectiveness. Non-pharmacological interventions are recommended as first-line treatment of insomnia and for the prevention of delirium in inpatient settings. The use of interventions without evidence for efficacy or effectiveness is contrary to the quality use of medicines principles in Australia's National Medicines Policy. Context-specific evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness of a medicine should guide clinician decision-making and prescribing, to improve the quality use of medicines., (© 2025 The Author(s). Pharmacology Research & Perspectives published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, British Pharmacological Society and American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.)

The management of sedation in critically ill adults poses a unique challenge to clinicians. Dexmedetomidine, an α 2 agonist, has a unique mechanism and favorable pharmacokinetics, making it an attractive intravenous option for sedation and delirium in the intensive care unit. However, patients may be at risk for withdrawal with prolonged use, adding to the complexity of sedation and agitation management in this patient population. Enteral α 2 agents have the benefit of cost savings and ease of administration, thus playing a role in the ability to decrease intravenous sedative use and prevent dexmedetomidine withdrawal. Clonidine and guanfacine are the two most common enteral α 2 agents utilized for this purpose, however, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the comparative benefit between the two agents. The decision to use one vs the other agent should be determined based on their differing pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and side effect profile. The most effective dosing strategy for these agents is also unknown. Ultimately, more robust literature is required to determine enteral α 2 agonists place in therapy. This narrative review evaluates the currently available literature on the use of α 2 agonists in critically ill adults with an emphasis on sedation, delirium, and withdrawal., 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: Remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, has similar clinical effects to propofol for sedation in general anaesthesia. However, it remains uncertain whether remimazolam could increase postoperative delirium (POD) compared with propofol., Objectives: The purpose of our study was to compare the incidence of POD between remimazolam and propofol as sedative agents in general anaesthesia., Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs)., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched for prospective RCTs published through September 16, 2024. RCTs reporting the incidence of POD and comparing remimazolam with propofol for general anaesthesia were included. Odds ratio (ORs) were calculated using a random-effects model. The primary outcome was the incidence of POD. The secondary outcomes included time to extubation, awakening time, and adverse events such as intraoperative hypotension., Results: A total of six RCTs involving 1107 patients were included in this meta-analysis. For the primary outcome, the incidence of POD did not differ between the remimazolam and propofol groups (OR, 0.92; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.58-1.44). Regarding the secondary outcomes, remimazolam was associated with a lower incidence of intraoperative hypotension compared with propofol (OR, 0.31; 95 % CI, 0.21-0.46). There were no significant differences in other secondary outcomes. In the sensitivity analysis on three RCTs including only older patients (≥60 years old), there was no significant difference in the incidence of POD (OR, 1.00; 95 % CI, 0.52-1.93)., Conclusion: Perioperative remimazolam administration did not increase POD and reduced the risk of intraoperative hypotension compared to propofol. Further large-scale RCTs are warranted to explore the association of remimazolam and POD. Systematic review protocol: PROSPERO CRD42024544122., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Elderly patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) undergoing revascularization are prone to delirium and prolonged hospitalization. Preoperative prehabilitation may prevent delirium and reduce the length of stay. This study investigates the effect of multimodal prehabilitation on delirium incidence in elderly patients with CLTI undergoing revascularization., Methods: A comparative observational cohort study conducted in a large teaching hospital (intervention cohort n = 101, retrospective control cohort n = 207) and a university hospital (prospective control cohort n = 48) from 2020 to 2023. Patients aged ≥65 years undergoing revascularization were included, with acute treatment or severe cognitive impairment as exclusion criteria. The 3-week prehabilitation program included screening of general health and presence of delirium risk factors by a vascular nurse practitioner, screening and provision of personalized, home-based exercises by a physiotherapist, provision of nutritional advice by a dietician, and, if indicated, comprehensive geriatric assessment by a geriatrician, assessment of self-reliance and home situation by a prearranged homecare nurse, guidance and support for smoking cessation by a quit smoking coach, and anemia treatment. Primary outcome was 30-day delirium incidence, analyzed using regression models adjusting for potential confounders (age, physical impairment, history of delirium, preoperative anemia, and revascularization type). Secondary outcomes were length of stay, postoperative complications, 30-day mortality, and patient experiences., Results: Median age was 76 years (interquartile range [IQR], 71-82 years). Delirium incidence was lower in the prehabilitation cohort (n = 2/101; 2%) compared with controls (n = 23/255; 9%; odds ratio, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.89; P = .04). Adjusted analysis showed a non-significant delirium reduction (odds ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.06-1.3; P = .097). The prehabilitation cohort had a significantly shorter length of stay (2 [IQR, 1-5] vs 4 [IQR, 2-9] days; P ≤ .001), and fewer minor complications (14% vs 26%; P=.01). No differences were present in major complications and 30-day mortality. Patients reported high compliance and satisfaction (median score, 8/10 [IQR, 7-9])., Conclusions: Prehabilitation among elderly patients with CLTI is safe and has the potential to yield multiple beneficial effects on general outcomes following revascularization, while also achieving high levels of patient satisfaction. Further validation and consideration of implementation in surgical settings is recommended., Competing Interests: Disclosures None., (Copyright © 2024 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious complication after surgery. It is associated with postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PNCD). The vagal cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) has been hypothesized to play a role in POD/PNCD and may be a target for interventions such as transcutaneous auricular stimulation (taVNS). We aim to review associations of heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of vagal function with POD and postoperative immune reaction as well as taVNS as a potential preventive intervention for POD., Recent Findings: Autonomous nervous system (ANS) dysfunction was a common finding in studies analysing HRV in POD and postoperative cognitive dysfunction, but results were heterogeneous. There was no evidence from HRV analysis that vagal activity prevents overshooting postoperative immune activation, but HRV may help to identify patients at risk for postoperative infections. Animal studies and preliminary trials suggest that taVNS may be used to prevent POD/PNCD., Summary: Our review provides no evidence that CAP suppression is associated with POD/PNCD. Future studies should consider that high vagal tone may also mediate immunosuppression in surgical patients, yielding an increased risk for postoperative infections. Although taVNS is a promising approach to prevent POD/POCD, future studies should take these concerns into account., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine whether perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials from the last 10 years up to March 10, 2024. We then conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dexmedetomidine in preventing delirium after cardiac surgery in adults. This meta-analysis followed the steps in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA2020) guidelines. This study is registered with INPLASY under number INPLASY202430132., Results: A total of 2689 patients were included in our analyses. All included studies were randomized controlled trials. Dexmedetomidine can reduce the occurrence of delirium in patients after cardiac surgery(OR 0.75, 95%CI 0.57-0.98, I 2  = 12%, P = 0.04). In terms of other end events, length of intensive care unit(ICU) stay(MD -0.16, 95%CI -1.85-1.53, I 2  = 0%, P = 0.85) and mortality(OR 1.59, 95%CI 0.74-3.42, I 2  = 0%, P = 0.23) were not statistically different with dexmedetomidine compared with placebo. Bradycardia (OR 0.85, 95%CI 0.54 ~ 1.34, I 2  = 72%, P = 0.49) and hypotension (OR 1.97, 95%CI 0.96 ~ 4.03, I 2  = 84%, P = 0.06) were not significantly different between the two groups., Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine is safe for cardiac surgery patients and to some extent reduces the incidence of delirium in cardiac surgery patients, which is more important in preoperative use., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Ulinastatin (UTI), recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties, holds promise for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intraoperative UTI administration and the incidence of delirium following cardiac surgery., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a retrospective cohort of 6,522 adult cardiac surgery patients to evaluate the relationship between UTI treatment and the incident of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients ongoing cardiac surgery. This was followed by a prospective observational cohort study of 241 patients and an in vitro study to explore the findings and the potential role of UTI in preventing cardiac ischemia-reperfusion induced glycocalyx degradation., Results: Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses in retrospective cohort indicated that intraoperative administration of UTI was associated with a significant lower risk of POD among cardiac surgery patients, a finding confirmed through employing propensity score matching. The subsequent prospective observational cohort further supported these findings (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.392, 95% CI: 0.157-0.977, P = 0.044). Furthermore, UTI mitigated glycocalyx degradation, as demonstrated by in vitro study., Conclusions: UTI administration may mitigate glycocalyx degradation, potentially lowering the risk of POD in cardiac surgery patients, offering valuable insights for future interventions to prevent POD and enhance patient outcomes. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT06268249). Retrospectively registered 4 February 2024., Competing Interests: Declarations. Availability of data and materials: On reasonable request, data, analytic methods, and study materials will be made available from the corresponding authors to other researchers for purposes of reproducing the results or replicating the procedure. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study received approval from the Institutional Review Board of the Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China; Approval No. TJ-IRB20231224) and adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The clinical trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06268249). The first part of the study, being retrospective in nature, was exempted from obtaining informed consent. However, all participants in the second part of the study signed a written informed consent form. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common adverse event in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to determine the effectiveness of a multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention protocol to reduce the incidence of POD in elderly patients admitted to the surgical ICU (SICU). This before-and-after cohort study included 300 patients aged ≥ 65 years who were admitted to the SICU within 7 days postoperatively with an anticipated SICU stay > 24 h. During the pre-intervention period, patients received medical care based on the attending physicians. While during the intervention, patients received the same medical care plus a multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention protocol. POD was monitored twice daily using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU. Demographic and clinical data during SICU stay were collected and compared between the pre-intervention and intervention periods. The primary outcome was POD incidence. The secondary outcomes were POD duration, delirium-free days, and other clinical outcomes. The incidences of POD during the pre-intervention and intervention periods were not different (40.0% vs. 38.0%, P = 0.723; OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.58-1.46). Multivariate regression analyses with two different models demonstrated that the multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention protocol was not associated with POD prevention (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-1.25 for Model 1 and OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.37-1.08 for Model 2). The protocol was associated with lower incidence of SICU events, particularly self-removal of endotracheal tube and nosocomial infection. Implementation of the multicomponent non-pharmacological intervention protocol was not associated with POD prevention in elderly patients admitted to the SICU.Trial registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry. Trial No. TCTR20181201001. Retrospective registered 01 December 2018., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted according to the ethical standards established by the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. The study was approved by the Siriraj Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (Si 211/2018, Chairperson Prof. Chairat Shayakul, M.D.) on 11 April 2018. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Objectives: We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in elderly orthopedic surgery patients., Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials of dexmedetomidine in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. The data was published on October 25, 2024. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. Outcome measures included incidence of delirium, length of hospital stay, visual analogue scale, and postoperative complications. Estimates are expressed as relative risk (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The publications were reviewed according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)., Results: This study was registered with INPLASY (number INPLASY2024110004). A total of 3159 patients were included in 9 randomized controlled trials. The results showed that dexmedetomidine exhibited a preventive effect on delirium compared with the control group in elderly patients after orthopedic surgery (RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.45-0.66, P < 0.01, I 2  = 0%). Subgroup analysis suggested that dexmedetomidine was significantly different from saline(RR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.44-0.73, P<0.01, I²=31%) and propofol(RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.39-0.70, P<0.01, I²=0%) in reducing postoperative delirium in elderly fracture patients. No statistically significant differences were observed in length of hospital stay, visual analogue scale, and postoperative complications (P > 0.05). Certainty of evidence for postoperative delirium was moderate., Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine has been shown to have a protective effect on postoperative delirium in elderly patients following orthopedic surgery., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors approved the final manuscript and the submission to this journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Delirium is a common acute cognitive impairment characterised by confusion, disorientation and attention deficits, particularly prevalent in intensive care unit (ICU) settings. Given its significant impact on patients, caregivers and healthcare resources, preventing delirium in patients in the ICU is of paramount importance. This is the first randomised-controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of a virtual reality-based sensory stimulation intervention on preventing delirium in ICU patients., Methods and Analysis: We employed a paired randomisation method to match eligible participants based on a validated delirium risk scoring model for patients in the ICU. The study will commence in September 2024 and conclude in June 2026. A consecutive sample of 324 patients in the ICU admitted to the study setting will be recruited. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either virtual reality-based sensory stimulation in addition to usual care or usual care alone. The virtual reality-based sensory stimulation intervention will last for up to 14 days, with all interventions administered by a research team. We define delirium-free days over a 14-day period as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes will include delirium incidence, duration and severity; patients' psychological well-being (post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep quality and ICU memory); patients' clinical outcomes and other outcomes (quality of life, independence and cognitive function). Data will be collected at baseline, post-intervention and 6 months post-intervention. Two independent t-tests or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests will be used for continuous variables, while χ 2 or Fisher's exact tests will be employed for categorical variables. The analysis will adhere to both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol principles. Additionally, mixed-effects models and subgroup analysis will be planned., Ethics and Dissemination: This protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University (NYSZYYEC20230068). All participants or their family caregivers will provide written informed consent. Results will be disseminated through scientific publications, and presentations at local and international conferences., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06153472. Trial registration date: 22 November 2023., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is the most common neurological adverse event among elderly patients undergoing surgery. POD is associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications, long-term cognitive decline, an increase in morbidity and mortality as well as extended hospital stays. Delirium prevention and treatment options are currently limited. This study will evaluate the effect of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) on the incidence of POD., Methods: We will perform a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial using single-session postoperative application of tES in the recovery room in 225 patients (> 65 years) undergoing elective major surgery. Patients will be randomly allocated (ratio 1:1:1) to one of three study groups: (1) alpha-tACS over posterior parietal cortex [2 mA, 20 min], (2) anodal tDCS over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [2 mA, 20 min], (3) sham [2 mA, 30 s]. Delirium will be screened twice daily with the 3-min diagnostic interview Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) in the 5 days following surgery. The primary outcome is the incidence of POD defined as at least one positive screening during the five first postoperative days compared between tACS and sham groups. Secondary outcomes include delirium severity, duration, phenotype, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, electroencephalographic (EEG) markers, and fluid biomarkers., Discussion: If effective, tES is a novel, easily applicable, non-invasive method to prevent the occurrence of POD. The comprehensive neurophysiological and biofluid assessments for markers of (neuro-)inflammation and neurodegeneration will shed light on the pathomechanisms behind POD and further elucidate the (after-)effects of tES. The potential implications for the postoperative recovery comprise enhanced patient safety, neurocognitive outcome, perioperative manageability but also reduced healthcare costs., Trial Registration: German Clinical Trial Registry DRKS00033703. Registered on February 23, 2024., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate {24}: The study has been approved by the local ethics committee “Ethikkommission an der Universitätsmedizin Greifswald” (translation: Ethics Committee of the Greifswald University Hospital) with the registration number BB 179/23 on December 8, 2023. Written, informed consent to participate will be obtained from all participants. Consent for publication {32}: Not applicable—no identifying images or other personal or clinical details of participants are presented here or will be presented in reports of the trial results. The participant information materials and informed consent form are available from the corresponding author on request. Competing interests {28}: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Administration of cholinesterase inhibitors in combination with anticholinergic drugs for reversal of neuromuscular blocks may precipitate delirium through impairment of central cholinergic transmission, which could be avoided by using sugammadex. Therefore, we tested the primary hypothesis that postoperative delirium is less common when neuromuscular block is reversed with sugammadex than with neostigmine combined with glycopyrrolate or atropine., Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study, analyzing all adult patients having general anesthesia for noncardiac surgery who received neostigmine or sugammadex from January 2016 to March 2022. Inverse propensity score weighting and propensity score calibration were used to adjust for appropriate confounders. Our primary outcome was presence of delirium within the first 4 days after surgery, defined as at least 1 positive brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM) screening. The secondary outcome was the presence of early delirium within 24 hours of surgery., Results: Among 49,468 cases in our analysis, 6881 received sugammadex and 42,587 received neostigmine. After propensity weighting, the incidence of delirium was 1.09% in the sugammadex group and 0.82% in the neostigmine group. The odds of postoperative delirium did not differ between the sugammadex and neostigmine groups, with an estimated odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.33 (0.91-1.95), P = .147. A sensitivity analysis restricted to only include cases with at least 6 bCAM measurements over postoperative day (POD) 1 to 4 had consistent results, as sugammadex compared with neostigmine was associated with an estimated odds ratio for postoperative delirium of 1.20 (0.82-1.77), P = .346. Sugammadex was significantly associated with an increased incidence of early postoperative delirium, with an estimated odds ratio of 1.71 (1.07-2.72), P = .025. Further analysis showed no treatment-by-age interaction for either postoperative delirium ( P = .637) or postoperative early delirium ( P = .904)., Conclusions: Compared to neostigmine, use of sugammadex for reversal of neuromuscular block was not associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium in this retrospective single-center study. Though sugammadex was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of postoperative early delirium, the difference was small and not clinically relevant, and may reflect the presence of unknown confounders., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Background: Humanized care is a novel concept in the prevention of delirium, with family involvement being a crucial component. Currently, there is controversy regarding the effectiveness of family involvement in preventing delirium among critically ill patients, and the impact of varying levels of family involvement on delirium prevention remains unclear., Objective: The purpose of this study is twofold: (a) to investigate the influence of family involvement on delirium among critically ill patients, and (b) to explore the effectiveness of different levels of family involvement in preventing delirium in these patients., Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: From database inception to July 2024, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane CENTRAL database. Randomized controlled trials that examined family involvement were included in the review., Results: This review included a total of 11 randomized controlled trials, encompassing 3113 critically ill patients. Family involvement was found to significantly reduce the incidence of delirium among critically ill patients (RR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.31 to 0.69), decrease the duration of delirium (WMD = -2.18, 95 % CI = -4.14 to -0.22), and shorten the length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (WMD = -1.46, 95%CI = -2.43 to -0.50). Three different levels of family involvement-direct participation in care (RR = 0.37, 95%CI = 0.26 to 0.51), family visits and companionship (RR = 0.56, 95 % CI = 0.25 to 1.25), and indirect participation (RR = 0.77, 95 % CI = 0.29 to 2.07)-varies in their effectiveness for delirium prevention., Conclusions: Family involvement significantly impacts delirium prevention in critically ill patients. The effectiveness of delirium prevention varies depending on the level of family involvement, with direct participation of family members in caregiving demonstrating a more pronounced effect in reducing delirium incidence among critically ill patients., Registration: The review protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42024563095)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the impact of graded management based on delirium prediction modeling on the improvement of recovery of cardiac surgery patients., Methods: Three hundred and twenty patients admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine of Nanjing Hospital affiliated with Nanjing Medical University from June 2021 to December 2023 after Type A aortic coarctation were selected as study subjects. They were grouped according to the randomized scale method and divided into 160 cases in each the control group and the observation group. In the control group, conventional nursing measures were adopted, and in the observation group, graded nursing interventions were carried out according to the established delirium risk prediction model. Comparison between the two groups in terms of the intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring time, hospitalization time, duration of delirium, and delirium incidence, and investigated nursing satisfaction, and quality of care scores., Results: Compared with the control group, the observation group's ICU custody time, hospitalization time, and delirium duration, decreased, and the quality of care, and satisfaction increased (P < .05). At the same time, the incidence of delirium in the observation group was also lower than that in the control group (P < .05)., Conclusion: The graded management based on the delirium prediction model can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium in critically ill patients with Type A aortic coarctation, and at the same time improve patient satisfaction and quality of care.

Background: The high incidence and mortality rates of postoperative delirium (POD) among elderly patients highlights the pressing need for tailored prophylactic strategies. Despite various pharmacologic prophylactic strategies have been reported effective, their overall benefit and safety remain unclear in the geriatric population. Our network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to systematically evaluate and rank the effectiveness of various pharmacological interventions in preventing POD in elderly patients., Methods: We conducted an extensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to August 1, 2023. We included RCTs examining pharmacological prophylactic effects of POD in elderly patients. To extract data in alignment with predefined areas of interest, we employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. The primary outcome was the incidence of POD. For secondary outcomes, we evaluated tolerability through all-cause discontinuation or drop-out rates, as well as all-cause mortality., Results: Our analysis encompassed a total of 44 RCTs involving 11,178 patients. Out of these, 26 RCTs involved comparisons with placebo only. For delirium prevention, the treatment groups receiving atypical antipsychotics (odds ratio (OR) of 0.27 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.12-0.58), haloperidol (OR of 0.42; 95% CI of 0.25-0.71), dexmedetomidine (OR of 0.51 and 95% CI of 0.37-0.71 and melatonergic agents (MMA) (OR of 0.57 and 95% CI of 0.33-0.98) had significantly lower rates of delirium compared to the placebo group. Notably, the atypical antipsychotics ranked as the most effective treatment. For tolerability, no statistically differences in rates of dropout discontinuation and all-cause mortality among groups allocated to the placebo or individual pharmacological treatments., Conclusions: Based on indirect evidence, our network meta-analysis identified atypical antipsychotics, dexmedetomidine, MMA, and haloperidol as effective in preventing POD in the elderly, with atypical antipsychotics ranking highest. However, it is essential to note that these findings should be confirmed through further RCTs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing interest We have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to codesign a Family Members' Voice Reorientation Intervention (FAMVR) for delirium prevention and management in critically ill adult patients through collaborative process with previous patients, families, and clinical staff., Background: Delirium is a common consequence of intensive care admission, and there is limited evidence to support family-led interventions to prevent or minimise delirium in intensive care. People with lived experience of intensive care are seldom involved in codesigning delirium prevention and management interventions despite the identified benefits of their involvement in delirium care., Design: Codesign qualitative study., Methods: The process of co-designing was undertaken using the four stages of the Double Diamond model. Participants included people with lived experience of the intensive care unit, family members, and intensive care clinicians. The codesign approach was utilised, and data were gathered from a series of focus groups and individual interviews. Data were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis., Findings: Of the 26 people who indicated their interest in participating, 12 (46%) completed the first and second stages, and nine (35%) completed the third and fourth stages of the Family Members' Voice Reorientation Intervention development. All participant groups were represented in the fourth stage: patients (n = 4), family members (n = 1), nurses (n = 2), and medical staff (n = 2). Four themes were identified: message content, wording, reactions, and tone, all of which informed the prototype of the intervention and its associated domains., Conclusion: A codesign approach was important for developing a delirium management intervention. This process enabled participants to provide their feedback in the context of their unique experiences, which in turn enhanced the authenticity and appropriateness of this unique intervention., (Copyright © 2024 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Patient and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) interventions are increasingly recognized as a viable approach to address various mental health issues among patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Therefore, this review aims to estimate the effect of Patient and Family-Centered Care Interventions on specific outcomes in adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs)., Methods: We systematically searched four major databases for parallel arm Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). The PRISMA framework was used to report our review. We included studies involving adult patients (> 18-years) admitted to ICUs and examined the effects of any type of Patient and Family-Centered Care intervention (PFCC) on outcomes such as depression, anxiety, delirium, and length of hospital stay. Data extraction was performed independently by two authors in Medline, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, from inception to July 2024. Random effects model was used to pool the data., Results: A total of 11 studies were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis, with a combined sample size of 3352 patients (PFCC group, n = 1681; usual care group, n = 1671). A random-effects model revealed a significant reduction in delirium prevalence in the PFCC group, with a pooled Risk Ratio (RR) of 0.54 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.81). However, no statistical significance was found for other outcomes such as depression, length of ICU stay, and anxiety. It is important to note that all the included studies were assessed to have either a high or unclear risk of bias., Conclusion: PFCC interventions may significantly reduce delirium rates among ICU patients; however, their effects on other outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and length of stay, were not statistically significant., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The letter to the editor was written in response to the recent article by Wang et al. "The influence of low-dose s-ketamine on postoperative delirium and cognitive function in older adults undergoing thoracic surgery", which is published in Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery. 2024; 19(1):324. This article concludes that intravenous low-dose S-ketamine during thoracic surgery in older patients significantly reduces the incidences of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction, indicating a potential neuroprotective effect of intraoperative low-dose S-ketamine. In view to the retrospective nature of this study and their inconsistent findings with the results of a recent randomized controlled trial performed in patients undergoing non-cardiac thoracic surgery, we believe that several methodological issues and potential confounders in this study deserve further clarification and discussion before accepting their conclusions. Our main concerns include lacking the times and number of delirium monitoring per postoperative day, alone use of the Confusion Assessment Method form for delirium screening, not providing the factors related to the occurrence of postoperative delirium in the ICU stay, and application of a non-standard definition for postoperative cognitive impairment. We believe that clarification of these issues is useful for improving the transparency of their methodology and facilitating the interpretation of their results., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: As our paper is just a letter to the editor that comments a article published in journal, ethics approval and consent are unnecessary. Consent for publication: All authors agree to the contents of the submitted manuscript and acknowledge familiarity with the journal’s instructions for manuscript submission. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Prone positioning with head rotation can influence cerebral haemodynamics, potentially affecting cerebral perfusion and oxygenation. Elderly patients with impaired brain perfusion and oxygenation are at an increased risk of developing postoperative delirium (POD). Despite this, few studies have explored whether head orientation during prone positioning contributes to POD in older adults, an aspect often overlooked by clinicians. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of head orientation during prone positioning on the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing thoracolumbar spine surgery., Methods and Analysis: This study is a single-centre, randomised, single-blind trial, with the assessors blinded to the intraoperative head position. Eligible participants are patients aged ≥65 years undergoing elective thoracolumbar spine surgery. A total of 500 patients will be randomly assigned to either the prone position with the head centred, or the prone position with the head deviated. The primary outcome is the incidence of POD, measured using the 3 min Diagnostic Interview for Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM) until postoperative day 5. Secondary outcomes include the severity of POD assessed by the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), postoperative cognitive impairment evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), intraoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO 2 ), changes in vertebrobasilar artery and middle cerebral artery haemodynamics, and plasma levels of calcium channel-binding protein S100 subunit beta (S100B) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE)., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval was obtained from Yancheng No. 1 People's Hospital Ethics Examination Committee (2023-K-120-01). The findings will be disseminated through presentations at annual conferences and publications in scientific journals., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2300078839., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: Effective analgesia and sedation management play a crucial role in reducing the intensity of coughing in patients with endotracheal intubation and improving clinical outcomes. However, current approaches are predominantly singular and lack comprehensive management strategies based on multidisciplinary collaboration. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary collaborative bundled care on analgesia and sedation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with endotracheal intubation, providing evidence to inform clinical practice., Methods: Seventy ICU patients were enrolled with endotracheal intubation, admitted between January and August 2024. They were divided into a control group (n = 35) receiving routine care (admitted from January to April) and an intervention group (n = 35) receiving multidisciplinary collaborative bundled care (admitted from May to August). Outcomes measured included physical restraint use, analgesic dosage, cough strength, delirium incidence, and duration of mechanical ventilation., Results: The intervention group had significantly lower doses of remifentanil (8.37 ± 1.50 mg) and midazolam (21.43 ± 3.74 mg) compared to the control group (9.92 ± 1.58 and 31.12 ± 7.89 mg; P < .05). The incidence of delirium was also lower in the intervention group (11.4%) than in the control group (31.4%; P < .05). Delirium onset was delayed in the intervention group (3.02 ± 1.05 days) compared to the control group (2.58 ± 0.79 days), and its duration was shorter (3.43 ± 1.74 vs 5.12 ± 1.89 days; P < .05). Additionally, physical restraints were significantly lower in the intervention group (22.9% vs 45.7%; P < .05). Cough strength was notably higher in the intervention group (4.74 ± 0.82 vs 3.36 ± 0.76; P < .05), and the duration of mechanical ventilation was reduced (4.77 ± 1.42 vs 5.92 ± 1.66 days; P < .05)., Conclusion: Multidisciplinary collaborative bundled care improves sedation and analgesia outcomes in ICU patients with endotracheal intubation, reducing medication dosage, incidence of delirium, physical restraint use, and duration of mechanical ventilation while enhancing cough strength., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Anxiety and delirium are prevalent complications in cardiac patients undergoing invasive procedures like coronary artery bypass surgery, with untreated symptoms potentially leading to enduring physical and psychological consequences. Benson's relaxation technique, a method of attention focusing, has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating various symptoms, although findings are conflicting. Thus, this study aimed to assess the influence of Benson's relaxation on anxiety and delirium severity in open-heart surgery candidates., Methods: Conducted in 2022 at Qaem Hospital in Mashhad, this randomized controlled trial involved 60 patients. The intervention group received Benson's relaxation training pre-surgery and practiced it twice daily for 72 h post-admission. Standard care was provided to controls. Anxiety and delirium were assessed using standardized scales before and after the intervention., Results: The demographic characteristics of both groups were comparable with no significant differences. Benson's relaxation significantly reduced delirium scores on the first and second days post-surgery (P < 0.001). However, the difference in delirium scores between the groups was not significant on the third day (P = 0.129). While the intervention led to a significant reduction in anxiety within the intervention group, no significant difference in anxiety reduction was observed between the intervention and control groups (P = 0.579)., Conclusion: Incorporating Benson's relaxation technique, which showed significant effects in reducing early postoperative delirium, into postoperative care plans for open-heart surgery patients warrants consideration. However, given the lack of a significant effect on anxiety reduction compared to routine care, further research is necessary to evaluate its long-term effectiveness and broader impact on psychological outcomes., Trial Registration: This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. c IRCT20210903052365N1) on 2022-01-28., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.NURSE.REC.1399.074) and complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. The purpose and importance of the study were explained to participants who met the inclusion criteria, and they signed a written informed consent form. Patients were informed that they were free to withdraw from the study at any time without any effect on their treatment plan, should they wish to do so. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations, which are aligned with the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: The effects of first-generation antihistamines in preventing postoperative emergence agitation or delirium are unclear. Determining the postoperative effects of first-generation antihistamines may provide important insights into the management of patient safety. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of postoperative first-generation antihistamines., Methods: Patients who used first-generation antihistamines in the intensive care unit or operating room were included. Primary outcomes were assessed postoperative emergence agitation or delirium with binary and continuous variables. The secondary outcome was any adverse event., Results: Nine studies were included. The frequency of postoperative emergence agitation, measured using binary variables, tended to be lower in patients receiving chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine than those receiving saline. However, evaluation using the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale as a continuous variable revealed that only chlorpheniramine was effective at lowering postoperative emergence agitation. Only one study assessed delirium but found no benefit of first-generation antihistamines. Adverse events for first-generation antihistamines did not differ from that of other drugs., Conclusion: Our results provide limited evidence that some first-generation antihistamines may prevent postoperative emergence agitation and are safe. To further verify this possibility, new RCTs with clear and universal assessment criteria for postoperative emergence agitation or delirium should be conducted., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose of Review: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication that has important implications for surgical patients, often leading to both short- and long-term cognitive deficits, worse outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. Given these implications, there may be a benefit in reducing the incidence of POD. Pharmacologic interventions may have the potential to reduce the risk of a patient developing POD., Recent Findings: Recently studied therapies include dexmedetomidine, propofol, haloperidol, ketamine, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, acetaminophen, melatonin/ramelteon, corticosteroids, midazolam, physostigmine, and neostigmine. In addition, the implementation of regional anesthesia and reduction of overall anesthetic depth have been examined. Of these therapies, dexmedetomidine has been studied the most and has the most supporting evidence for prevention of POD, but current studies lack clarity on optimal dosing and timing of dexmedetomidine administration. Acetaminophen, corticosteroids, and melatonin/ramelteon are other plausible medications that have potential for reducing POD incidence, but they all require further investigation. Reduction of anesthetic depth and regional anesthetics are options for anesthetic management that show promise but still lack enough supporting evidence in recent literature to receive a strong recommendation. Future research should focus on identifying optimal strategies for the implementation of the pharmacological options listed, including doses and timing of administration. Attention should be given to dexmedetomidine given its promise demonstrated by recent literature., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication in elderly surgical patients, with limited targeted interventions due to incomplete understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms. Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, involving glial cell activation, particularly astrocytes, is considered crucial in POD development. Butyrate, a four-carbon fatty acid, has shown protective effects in CNS diseases, but its potential in mitigating POD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sodium butyrate on POD in aged mice. Behavioral tests, including open field, Y maze, and food burying tests, demonstrated that sodium butyrate preconditioning ameliorated laparotomy-induced delirium in aged mice. Pre-treatment with sodium butyrate inhibited astrocyte activation in the hippocampus, reduced interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression levels, and protected hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, the study revealed a connection between gut microbiota regulation and central neuroprotective effects mediated by astrocyte activation inhibition. Sodium butyrate improved the intestinal morphological barrier by rebalancing gut microbiota, inhibiting Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, reducing Allobaculum and Bacteroides abundance, and increasing Oscillospira abundance. This regulation decreased gut permeability, limiting the entry of toxic substances into the bloodstream, thereby reducing inflammation spread and astrocyte overactivation, leading to central anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, sodium butyrate may ameliorate POD by inhibiting astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation through gut microbiota rebalancing., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Nearly one-quarter of adult critical illness survivors develop posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms triggered by sensory stimuli after intensive care unit discharge. Intensive care unit delirium is a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder. Compressed virtual reality exposure therapy (C-VRET) incorporates sensory stimuli to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms through habituation., Clinical Findings and Diagnosis: A critical illness survivor developed intensive care unit delirium and enrolled in a C-VRET trial to treat posttraumatic stress disorder. She reported self-isolation because of infection fears and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms triggered by medical commercials and lawn equipment sounds. She repetitively checked her heart rate at night for fear of missing illness signs and waking up intubated., Interventions: The participant completed therapy. Screening tests were administered before, 2 weeks after, and 3 months after therapy to measure posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5; range, 0-60), depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; range, 0-60), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), and resiliency (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale; range, 0-100)., Outcomes: The participant's posttraumatic stress disorder symptom scores declined from 36 to 11 to 5; depression scores declined from 19 to 5 to 1; physical activity scores increased from 499 to 2013 to 4599; and resiliency scores increased from 70 to 76 to 83., Conclusion: This report highlights the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in critical illness survivors and the importance of strategies to limit delirium and posttraumatic stress disorder. Compressed virtual reality exposure therapy may reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in critical illness survivors., (©2024 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.)

Background: Co-designing healthcare interventions is gaining recognition as a novel and collaborative method. Co-design involves end-users from the start, ensuring that an intervention best meets their needs. Despite its potential benefits, this approach is not yet widely used in developing clinical interventions within intensive care units where the perspectives of patients, family members, and clinicians are crucial., Objective: To describe the application, benefits and challenges of the Double Diamond model to co-design a digital family-led voice reorientation intervention for delirium prevention and management in critically ill adult patients., Methods: The co-design process was guided by the Double Diamond model over a period of 12 months. Development involved patients, family members, and nursing and medical staff as co-designers and decision-makers in the iterative development of the intervention. Data from field notes and group meetings were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and content analysed at each phase, which were then presented to the co-designers for verification and refinement., Findings: Co-designers included people with lived experience of the ICU as patients (n = 5) and family members (n = 1) and clinical experts (nursing staff n = 3; medical staff n = 3). Co-designers were highly engaged and reported positive experiences and collaboration in the co-design process. Sharing the diversity of their own personal ICU experiences was found to be beneficial as it not only validated individual feelings but also strengthened intervention development. Differences in interpretations and meanings of the voice messages proposed as part of the intervention were challenging. Maintaining sufficient focus on each phase of the Double Diamond was difficult due to the complexity of the context in which the intervention was being co-designed and the resulting challenges of maintaining the engagement of the co-designers throughout the process., Conclusions: There were benefits and challenges of engaging people with lived experience in an intensive care unit as co-designers through the Double Diamond design process to develop a digital family-led intervention for delirium prevention and management. Overall, applying the Double Diamond to co-design a clinical intervention is recommended, whereby the collaboration process benefits patients, family members, and clinical staff., Registration Number: ACTRN12622001568707; ANZCTR - Registration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Delirium has been recognized, documented, and examined for centuries. In 500 BC Hippocrates described hyper- and hypoactive forms of delirium. As medicine, surgery, and critical care have accelerated over the last century, so too has our understanding of delirium and its profound risks to patients, families, and health care teams. It has also been increasingly understood that it is the accumulation of risk factors that ultimately precipitates delirium and nonpharmacological interventions to reduce these risks remain the cornerstone of delirium prevention and management. However, over the last three decades, these nonpharmacological strategies have moved from a single-component approach to a multicomponent approach, targeting multiple risk factors. Additionally, our understanding of what constitutes a risk factor for delirium has evolved, and in particular, it has been recognized that delirium can sometimes be a byproduct of our interventions and health care systems. In the surgical setting, for example, optimization of risk factors prior to surgery, when possible, is now seen as a key way to prevent postoperative delirium. Similarly, critical care medicine now operates with the appreciation of the profound risk to patients of prolonged mechanical ventilation, sedation, and immobilization and seeks to minimize each to reduce the risk of delirium, among other negative effects. The future of delirium prevention and management lies in both better implementation of best practices that have been defined over the last three decades as well as taking more of a whole patient view. This includes harnessing the electronic medical record, artificial intelligence, and so on to risk assess and individualize care for each patient; restructuring care to reduce deliriogenic practices and care environments; redefining what usual care looks like (e.g., utilizing music and involving loved ones, etc.); policy changes to change systematic priorities. In this paper, we will explore the past, present, and future of nonpharmacological prevention and management of delirium across care settings., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a life-threatening condition that can require invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) to ensure adequate oxygenation and ventilation. However, IMV can cause delirium, a temporary and fluctuating state of consciousness disorder, which negatively impacts patient outcomes. Perphenazine, an antipsychotic drug that blocks dopamine receptors, can alleviate symptoms such as irritability and restlessness that caused by delirium. This retrospective study aimed to identify risk factors associated with delirium in SAP patients after extubation and withdrawal from IMV, and to determine whether prophylactic use of perphenazine could reduce the incidence of delirium., Methods: A total of 40 patients with SAP aged 18-75 years who underwent IMV and were successfully extubated offline after treatment were included. Perphenazine was used consistently 2 mg q12 h for 2 days before extubation. The assessment of delirium began after the removal of the endotracheal tube, using Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) every 12 h. Patients were divided into delirium (n = 9) and non-delirium (n = 31) groups or perphenazine (n = 22) and non-perphenazine (n = 18) groups. The clinical data of patients upon admission and after extubation between groups were analyzed using SPSS 26 software. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the risk factors for delirium., Results: Patients with a mean age of 42 years and a male to female ratio of 1.58:1 were enrolled. The incidence of delirium was 22.50%. Univariate analysis (P = 0.025) and binary logistic regression (P = 0.035, 95%CI 0.002-0.762) showed that prophylactic use of perphenazine reduced the incidence of delirium. Fentanyl use was a risk factor for delirium in the univariate analysis (P = 0.039). Patients in the delirium group were hospitalized longer than those in the non-delirium group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Perphenazine might have a potential effect on post-extubation delirium in SAP patients., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Ethics Committee of Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine approved the study, and informed consent was waived since the data were already generated before the start of the research. Consent for publication: The authors agreed to publication in the journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Postoperative delirium is a common neurological complication, especially in older patients undergoing surgery, which is closely related to the poor prognosis of patients. The objective was to investigate the effects of esketamine on postoperative delirium in patients with general anesthesia., Methods: The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for all available randomised controlled trials on the effects of esketamine induction on postoperative delirium in patients undergoing elective general anesthesia from inception until April 21, 2024. We used RevMan5.4 software for data analysis. Dichotomous data was analyzed by risk ratios(RR) with a 95% confidence interval(CI), and continuous data by mean differences(MD). We also evaluated the risk of literature bias using the Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment tool., Results: We included a total of 17 randomized controlled trials, including 1286 patients undergoing elective general anesthesia. In 17 studies, esketamine significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium (RR: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.33 ~ 0.57; p < 0.001). Five studies examined the incidence of postoperative adverse events (nausea, vomiting, dizziness and resporatory depression) and showed no statistically significant difference between the esketamine group and the control group (normal saline or dexmedetomidine) (RR: 0.82; 95%CI: 0.65 ~ 1.03; p = 0.08). In addition, this study found that the esketamine group had a lower incidence of hypotension (RR: 0.24; 95%CI: 0.12 ~ 0.48; p < 0.001) and a lower score on the visual analogue scale 24 h after surgery (MD: -0.44; 95%CI: -0.54 ~ -0.33; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: According to our meta-analysis, the use of esketamine during anesthesia induction significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing elective general anesthesia without increasing the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The optimal type of anesthesia for reducing postoperative delirium remains undetermined. This study aimed to assess the relationship between type of anesthesia and postoperative delirium., Methods: This retrospective national cohort study used data collected between 2016 and 2021 from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea. Adult patients who underwent primary total hip or total knee arthroplasty under general or regional anesthesia were included. Patients with postoperative delirium were identified after arthroplasty according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code for delirium (F05). The patients were divided into two groups: regional anesthesia (RA group) and general anesthesia (GA group). The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative delirium during hospitalization after total hip or knee arthroplasty., Results: Our study sample consisted of 664,598 patients: 474,932 in the RA group and 189,666 in the GA group. After propensity score (PS) matching, 276,582 patients (138,291 in each group) were included in the final analysis. In the PS-matched cohort, the incidence of delirium following total knee or total hip arthroplasty was 2.8% (3,842/138,291) in the GA group and 2.3% (3,147/138,291) in the RA group. In logistic regression, the RA group was associated with 18% (odds ratio: 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.78, 0.86; P < 0.001) lower postoperative incidence than the GA group., Conclusion: Compared to general anesthesia, regional anesthesia was associated with a decreased incidence of postoperative delirium in patients who underwent total hip or total knee arthroplasty. Our findings indicate that avoiding general anesthesia may prevent delirium after lower limb surgery., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (IRB) (IRB approval number: X-2303-819-902). The NHIS granted access to its public data and permitted the sharing of the following results (NHIS grant number: NHIS-2023-1-526). Consent to participate: Informed consent was waived by IRB of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital because data analyses were performed retrospectively using anonymized data derived from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The effect of different anaesthetics on the incidence of postoperative delirium is still not entirely clear. Therefore, we will evaluate the effect of desflurane versus sevoflurane versus propofol for the maintenance of anaesthesia on the incidence of postoperative delirium in older adults undergoing moderate- to high-risk major non-cardiac surgery. We will further compare the incidences of delayed neurocognitive recovery, long-term postoperative neurocognitive disorder, postoperative nausea and vomiting between the groups., Methods and Analysis: In this multicentre, prospective, observer-blinded, randomised controlled clinical trial, we will include 1332 patients ≥65 years of age undergoing moderate- to high-risk major non-cardiac surgery lasting at least 2 hours. Patients will be randomly 1:1:1 assigned to receive desflurane, sevoflurane or propofol for anaesthesia. Maintenance of anaesthesia will be performed in a goal-directed manner using processed electroencephalography with an intraoperative goal of bispectral index 40-60. Our primary outcome will be the incidence of postoperative delirium within the first five postoperative days. Postoperative delirium will be assessed using the three-dimensional-confusion assessment method (3D-CAM) or CAM-intensive care unit (ICU) in the morning and evening of the first five postoperative days by blinded study personnel. The primary outcome, the incidence of postoperative delirium, will be compared between the three study groups using a χ 2 test. Furthermore, a logistic regression model for the incidence of postoperative delirium will be performed, accounting for randomised groups as well as other predefined confounding factors., Ethics and Dissemination: This clinical trial has been approved by the ethics committee and the Federal Office for Safety in Healthcare as the competent authority for clinical trials in Austria. The results of this trial will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05990790., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a prevalent and severe complication in elderly patients undergoing major surgery, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of low-dose esketamine on the incidence of POD in elderly patients underwent total hip or knee arthroplasty., Patients and Methods: Two hundred and sixty elderly participants were randomly assigned to either the esketamine group (Group E) (0.20mg/kg loading, 0.125mg/kg/h infusion, 0.5 mg/kg for postoperative analgesia) or the placebo group (Group P) (received normal saline). The primary outcome was the incidence of POD, with secondary outcomes including delirium subtypes, duration, intraoperative analgesic consumption, operative and anesthesia times, hemodynamic changes, postoperative pain scores, sleep quality, and common postoperative adverse events., Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of POD between Group E (8.5%) and Group P (10.8%). No significant differences were observed for the time of delirium onset, duration of delirium, and delirium subtype between the two groups. Patients in the esketamine group had more stable hemodynamic profile after induction and reduced the pain score of motion on the first two days postoperatively but increased the incidence of postoperative dizziness., Conclusion: The repeated infusion of low-dose esketamine did not reduce the incidence of POD during the initial three postoperative days in elderly patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Ma et al.)

Objectives: Melatonin has been demonstrated to exert a preventive effect on delirium. This meta-analysis sought to investigate the preventive effects of melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists (ramelteon) on delirium in hospitalized elderly patients., Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis delineates the risk of delirium events in older hospitalized patients with melatonin/ramelteon compared with placebo, incorporating randomized controlled trials published up to 8 July 2024. The databases searched were PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcome measures were the incidence of delirium, while the secondary outcome measures were the length of hospital stay and mortality. The results are presented as odds ratios (OR) or mean differences (MD) with a 95% confidence interval. The review of publications was conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Project for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). This study has been registered with INPLASY (number INPLASY202470044)., Results: A total of 2086 patients were included in 13 randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome of this meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically difference in the incidence of delirium between the melatonin and placebo groups in hospitalized elderly patients (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.40-0.87, P < 0.01, I 2  = 60%), particularly in those who had undergone surgery (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.40-0.89, P = 0.01, I 2  = 53%). No statistically differences were observed in terms of length of stay (MD=-0.07, 95%CI:-1.09-0.94, P = 0.89, I 2  = 72%) and mortality (OR = 0.79, 95%CI:0.58-1.06, P = 0.12, I 2  = 0%)., Conclusions: Melatonin has been demonstrated to exert a protective effect on delirium in elderly patients who are hospitalized, particularly in the context of perioperative care., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: All authors approved the final manuscript and the submission to this journal. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute brain dysfunction that mainly occurs in elderly patients after surgery. Postoperative pain is an important factor in the occurrence of POD, and effective pain management can reduce the risk of POD. Our study aims is to investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block (FNB) on postoperative pain and the occurrence of POD after knee arthroplasty, and whether its mechanism is related to oxidative stress, inflammatory factors., Methods: Patients aged 65 to 80 years who were scheduled to undergo knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia from 2020 to 2023 were randomly divided into 2 groups: the control group (NC group) and the FNB analgesia group (FNB group). After anesthesia induction, the FNB group received ultrasound-guided FNB, whereas the NC group received an equal volume of normal saline. Visual analog scale (VAS), incidence of POD. the postoperative Quality of Recovery-15-Chinese version (QoR-15C) was been evaluated. Venous blood samples were collected from patients to detect the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and C-reactive protein (CRP)., Results: The VAS scores in the FNB group were significantly lower than those in the NC group at 24h. The summation of perioperative remifentanil usage and the number of remedial analgesia in the FNB group were significantly lower than those in the NC group. The incidence rate of POD in the FNB group is lower than the NC group. The occurrence of POD was markedly lower in the FNB group compared to the NC group. Compared with the NC group, the levels of MDA, GSH-Px, and CRP in the FNB group were lower on the first and third days after surgery. The QoR-15C score in the FNB group was higher on the 5th day after surgery., Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided FNB can reduce the incidence of POD after knee replacement surgery, and its mechanism may be related to analgesia improvement and reduction of postoperative inflammatory reaction., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Pain and sedation management is an integral part of pediatric intensive care practice. Sedoanalgesia management must be balanced in order to optimize comfort and avoid complications. In order to achieve this balance, sedoanalgesia management needs to be clarified in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). With this study, we aimed to investigate sedation, analgesia, withdrawal and delirium practices, pharmacologic agent preferences, and current experiences and practices in scoring systems in PICUs in Türkiye., Method: A questionnaire consisting of 57 questions was sent via e-mail to the 'Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergency' group, which includes all intensive care specialists, subspecialty students and lecturers in Türkiye., Results: Our study involved 36 pediatric intensive care physicians working in PICUs in Türkiye. Among the PICU specialists who participated in the study, 83.3% stated that they performed routine assessments of sedation efficacy. While dexmedetomidine was the most commonly used sedative agent in patients undergoing noninvasive mechanical ventilation, benzodiazepines were the most preferred pharmacologic agent for sedation during mechanical ventilation. Of the pediatric intensivists who participated in the study, 94.4% stated that they performed routine pain assessments in their units. Of the PICU specialists who participated in the study, 69.4% stated that muscle relaxants were most commonly used to prevent patient-ventilator incompatibility during mechanical ventilation. Of the participants, 88.8% made withdrawal assessments when discontinuing sedo-analgesic agents. Delirium assessment was routinely performed by 58.3% of the participants., Conclusions: This study showed that the practices in sedoanalgesia management in PICUs in Türkiye are in parallel with recommendations of the sedation guideline. Despite the increased sensitivity in sedoanalgesia management, awareness in the management of delirium and withdrawal syndrome is not at the desired level. Therefore, there is a need to develop guidelines, raise awareness and increase training on these issues in our Türkiye., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Background: Post-operative delirium (PD) is a common post-operative complication with significant clinical and financial impacts on patients. Erythropoietin (EPO), a multi-functional glycoprotein hormone, exhibits erythropoietic and non-erythropoietic anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to determine the role of perioperative EPO administration in the development of postoperative delirium in older adult patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty., Methods: Seventy-one patients (> 65 years old) scheduled for total joint arthroplasty were randomly assigned to two groups: EPO-treated (EPO, n = 35) and placebo (control, n = 36). All patients completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) pre-operatively and on post-operative day (POD) 2. The confusion assessment method (CAM) was used to assess the patients until discharge (POD 5). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured and compared pre- and post-operatively. The development of delirium and cognitive dysfunction was evaluated post-operatively., Results: One patient in the control group developed delirium on POD 2 (3.2%), whereas no patient in the EPO group developed PD (0% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.500). Post-operatively there was no significant difference in MMSE scores between groups. Both groups showed increases in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, with no significant differences. Similarly, CRP levels, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) showed no intergroup differences in post-operative inflammatory responses., Conclusions: Perioperative EPO reduced the incidence of post-operative delirium, although not statistically significant, with no differences in post-operative cognitive function and inflammatory responses., Trial Registration: The trial was registered on December 12, 2023 at http//clinicaltrials.gov, registration number NCT06178835., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board and Hospital Research Ethics Committee of Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System (#4-2017-0694). The trial was registered on December 12, 2023 at http://clinicaltrials.gov (registration number NCT06178835), adhered to the CONSORT statement, and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants, who were informed of their rights, including the option to withdraw from the study at any stage. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common neurological complication after surgery among older patients, characterised by acute disturbances in consciousness, attention and cognition, usually occurring within 24-72 hours after surgery. POD has a significant impact on the prognosis of older patients undergoing major cardiovascular surgery, including increased length of hospital stay, hospital costs and readmission rates, with an incidence rate as high as 26%-52%. Computerised cognitive training (CCT) refers to difficulty-adaptive training in cognitive domains such as attention, memory and logical reasoning, using systematically designed tasks. Existing studies have shown that CCT has reduced the risk of delirium in non-cardiac surgery patients with at least minimal compliance. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of preoperative CCT on the incidence of POD in older patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery, to clarify the dose-effect relationship between different training time of preoperative CCT and POD and to explore the minimum effective time target that can significantly lower the incidence of POD., Methods and Analysis: This is a prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial that aims to enrol 261 older patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University. The patients will be randomised into three groups: group C will be the routine care group (no CCT prior to surgery); group L will be the low-dose time group (with a total of 5 hours of CCT prior to surgery) and group H will be the high-dose time group (with a total of 10 hours of CCT prior to surgery). The primary outcome is the incidence of delirium within 7 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative mild neurocognitive disorder (NCD) and postoperative major NCD (30 days up to 1 year), time of onset and duration and severity of delirium, and all-cause mortality within 1 year after surgery. The results of this study are of significant importance for establishing effective, patient-centred and low-risk prevention strategies for POD/postoperative NCD., Ethics and Dissemination: This study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (Ethics Number: XYFY2023-KL149-01). All participants will provide written informed consent, and the results of the study will be published in international peer-reviewed academic journals and presented at academic conferences., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2300072806., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Neurosurgery is a risk factor for postoperative delirium. Dexmedetomidine has a potential effect on reducing postoperative delirium. We aim to test the primary hypothesis that perioperative administration of dexmedetomidine reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing neurosurgical resections of temporal glioma., Methods: This is a single-centre, randomised, blinded and parallel-group controlled trial. A total of 366 patients will be randomised to either dexmedetomidine group (n=183) or placebo group (n=183). Subjects assigned to dexmedetomidine group will be given a continuous infusion at 0.4 µg/kg/h after anaesthesia induction until dural closure and then immediately receive an infusion of dexmedetomidine at 0.08 µg/kg/h by intravenous analgesia pump during the first 48 hours postoperatively. Patients in the placebo group will be given comparable volumes of normal saline, and intravenous analgesia pumps contain equal amounts of sufentanil and antiemetics, but no dexmedetomidine. The primary outcome is the incidence of postoperative delirium, which will be assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method two times per day during the first five postoperative days., Ethics and Dissemination: The protocol (V.1.1) has been approved by the medical ethics committee of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University (KY2023-186-02). The findings of this study will be disseminated through presentations at scientific conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals., Trial Registration Number: NCT06164314., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

AbstractSedation practices are key to improving intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes. Adequate treatment of pain, minimization of sedation, delirium prevention, and improved patient interaction to ensure early rehabilitation and faster ventilator liberation are evidenced-based components of ICU care. Here we review components of appropriate ICU sedation including the use of multicomponent care bundles such as the ABCDEF bundle with a focus on changes in ICU practice that followed the Covid-19 pandemic.

Objective: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can bring an important benefit for older people in terms of reduction of mortality and hospitalization; however, reports of rare adverse effects like altered consciousness and delirium among this demographic have raised concerns. This study aimed to assess delirium incidence post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and its predictors in older residents across 60 Italian long-term care facilities (LTCFs)., Design: This is a prospective cohort study considering data from GeroCovid Vax, a multicenter cohort study jointly performed by the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG) (Florence, Italy) and the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità-ISS, Rome, Italy), and sponsored by the Italian Medicines Agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco-AIFA)., Setting and Participants: GeroCovid Vax enrolled LTCFs residents aged ≥60 who received at least 1 anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose., Methods: Baseline data covered sociodemographic details, chronic diseases, medications, nutritional status, cognitive and functional assessments, mobility, and frailty. Delirium was assessed post-first, second, and booster vaccine doses using DSM-5 criteria. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression, and network analysis., Results: A total of 2521 participants (mean age 83.10 ± 9.21 years, 70.7% female) were analyzed. Delirium incidence post-first, second, and booster doses was 3.5%, 1.6%, and 1.5%, respectively. Age, preexisting cognitive disorders, and frailty were significant predictors of delirium, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.08-2.77), 2.05 (95% CI, 1.40-2.97), and 1.77 (95% CI, 1.25-2.52), respectively. Prior use of antipsychotics (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22-2.51) and antidepressants (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.25-2.52) correlated significantly with delirium. Network analysis indicated a strong association between anorexia and delirium., Conclusion and Implications: Post-vaccination delirium is infrequent and decreases with subsequent doses. Timely assessments for frailty and cognitive impairment could aid in stratifying delirium risk among LTCF residents, facilitating enhanced prevention measures and close monitoring for delirium indicators., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Elderly patients are at a high risk of postoperative delirium (POD), leading to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. The use of dexmedetomidine and depth of anaesthesia may influence POD. This study aims to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine infusion versus normal saline placebo during light versus deep anaesthesia on POD among elderly patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery., Methods and Analysis: This prospective, multicentre, randomised, controlled, factorial trial will be conducted at three tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu, China. We will recruit a total of 420 patients who are at least 60 years old and undergoing major non-cardiac surgery (thoracic, abdominal, urology, orthopaedic and spine surgery) under general anaesthesia. Patients will be randomised (1:1:1:1) to receive one of four anaesthesia regimens: (1) dexmedetomidine and light anaesthesia, (2) dexmedetomidine and deep anaesthesia, (3) placebo and light anaesthesia or (4) placebo and deep anaesthesia. Dexmedetomidine will be infused at 0.5 µg/kg/h throughout surgery, and intraoperative bispectral index target will be 55 for light anaesthesia and 40 for deep anaesthesia. The primary outcome is the occurrence of POD during the first 7 days postoperatively or until hospital discharge, assessed using the 3-min Confusion Assessment Method two times per day. The secondary outcomes include days with POD, type of POD, pain scores at rest and on movement at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively, patient-controlled intravenous fentanyl consumption during 0-24 and 24-48 hours postoperatively, hypotension, bradycardia, postoperative nausea and vomiting, non-delirium complications, length of postoperative hospital stay, 30-day cognitive function and 30-day mortality. Data will be analysed on a modified intention-to-treat basis., Ethics and Dissemination: This trial was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and each participating centre. The trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300073271)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Aims: To investigate the preventive efficacy of melatonin on the incidence of delirium and other clinical outcomes of subjects in the intensive care unit (ICU)., Methods: Randomized controlled trials concerning the effects of melatonin on delirium published from inception to July 2022 were identified from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. The primary outcome was delirium incidence. The secondary outcome was the length of ICU stay, the duration of mechanical ventilation, and the mortality in ICU. A meta-analysis was performed. Estimates were presented as risk ratio (RR) or standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: Eleven RCTs with 2002 patients were included. The forest plots showed that the delirium incidence did not significantly decrease after melatonin administration (RR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.61~1.18, P = .32, I2=60%, P for heterogeneity = .01). The subgroup analyses confirmed that melatonin significantly reduced the incidence of delirium (RR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.56~0.89, P = .003, I2 = 32%, P for heterogeneity = .22) for the special ICU patients. Also, for ICU patients, the length of ICU stays, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality were not significantly decreased after melatonin treatment (all P > .05)., Conclusion: Melatonin may decrease the incidence of delirium for special ICU patients. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022354874.

Background: Delirium is acute neurological failure that alters cognition and results in a state of confusion and lack of self-awareness. It commonly affects critically ill patients within intensive care units (ICUs), and the wide array of fluctuating symptoms frequently leads to underdiagnosis. Delirium results in cognitive impairment and increased rates of fatality, and accurate assessments are essential for improving patient outcomes. Barriers to delirium assessment stem from a lack of knowledge and assessment training among ICU nurses., Method: Using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature electronic database, a literature synthesis was conducted, analyzing journal articles addressing delirium education and training among ICU nurses and barriers associated with assessment., Results: Current literature identifies methods to overcome barriers through training, education, and continuous reinforcement of delirium assessment. The goals of this review are to identify the barriers to delirium assessment and make recommendations for education methods to increase the confidence of ICU nurses in the recognition of delirium to improve patient outcomes., Conclusion: Early identification of delirium is crucial to improving patient outcomes. A standardized delirium educational program should be developed and implemented throughout the U.S. health care system. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(11):530-534.] .

Background: Delirium is a common complication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. It can lead to various adverse events. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of combining the use of the PREdiction of DELIRium (PRE-DELIRIC) model for delirium risk assessment and the use of a multicomponent care bundle for delirium assessment, prevention, and care in terms of reductions in the incidence of delirium among surgical ICU patients., Methods: This retrospective study included surgical ICU patients who had received PRE-DELIRIC-guided SMART/SmART care (SMART care: SmART bundle plus multidisciplinary team; SmART care: Sleep/sweet sense of home (creating a comforting and restful environment for patients), Assessment (regular and thorough evaluation of patient needs and conditions), Release (revised endotracheal tube care/removal, restraint device care, and immobility reduction for patient comfort), and Time (reorientation of time to optimize patient care schedules) in our hospital between May 2022 and March 2023 (intervention group) and individuals who had received usual care between January 2021 and April 2022 (historical control group). The SmART intervention involves providing care in the following domains: sleep/sweet sense of home, assessment, release, and time. Patients with a PRE-DELIRIC score of >30% received SMART care, which includes multidisciplinary (physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and physiotherapists) care in addition to SmART care. For the control group, usual care was provided following the guidelines for the prevention and management of pain, agitation, delirium, immobility, and sleep disruption. The primary outcome was delirium incidence during ICU stay, which was assessed using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist. The secondary outcomes were the duration of ICU stay, rate of unplanned self-extubation, and status of ICU discharge., Results: The intervention and control groups comprised 184 and 197 patients, respectively; their mean ages were 63.7 ± 18.4 years and 62.4 ± 19.5 years, respectively. The incidence of delirium was significantly lower (p = 0.001) in the intervention group (22.3%) than in the control group (47.7%)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the PRE-DELIRIC-guided SMART/SmART care intervention is effective in preventing and managing delirium among surgical ICU patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)