POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM IN ELDERLY PATIENTS: FROM THEORY TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Theocharis Kyziridis

Monday, January 1, 2018

Publication year:

2018

Author:

• Kyziridis Theocharis, Consultant Psychiatrist, 3rd Department of Psychiatry, AUTh, AHEPA University Hospital of Thessaloniki

Keywords index:

• Elderly patients
• postoperative delirium
• acute organic brain syndrome
• consultation psychiatry
• psychogeriatrics

Pages: 38-49

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1401323

Abstract:

Introduction: Postoperative delirium is mainly a geriatric complication with incidence ranging from 9% to 87% depending on both the patient population and the degree of operative stress. Purpose: This study was a descriptive review of postoperative delirium in elderly patients including clinical examples. Methodology : Literature review was carried out in "Pubmed database", which referred to post-operative delirium in elderly patients. Results: Review of the literature highlighted key points of postoperative delirium which familiarize health professionals with this syndrome. During the review, the following topics were explored: what is and how the post-operative delirium is manifested, and what situations must be distinguished, what are the basic principles of management, the pharmacological and non-methods that can be used to deal with it. This acute neuropsychiatric syndrome ideally requires prevention or, if this is not feasible, early diagnosis and treatment. The importance of prevention or early recognition lies in the multiple negative consequences of its existence, such as prolonged duration and increased cost of hospitalization, worsening health status of elderly patients, increased morbidity and mortality, increased rates of impairment of functionality and loss of independence. Conclusions: Effective treatment of postoperative delirium results from better knowledge of nurses and physicians about this syndrome.