Observational Study of Perioperative Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium in Elderly

Abstract

Delirium is a common but often undiagnosed complicationin the elderly following a major operation. Recognizing thepresentation of delirium and the criteria to establish the diagnosisof delirium will improve a clinician’s ability to detectthis complication. Initial treatment of delirium should be with environmentaland supportive measures and subsequentpharmacologic treatment. Optimal treatmentof postoperative delirium reduces the incidence, duration,and side effects of this common complication in geriatric postoperative patients. This presented observational study was conducted on 400 sequential patients after elective non cardiovascular surgery .The incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly and perioperative risk factors concerning age, preoperative physical status, type of surgical procedures and type of anesthesia was conducted. Cognitive function was assessed using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) preoperatively (baseline) and at 1st dayand 4th day postoperatively; comparing the changes between those at baseline with those after surgery.Delirium was diagnosed with ease andbrevity with delirium assessment tools: Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). In presented study, incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly is 13.3 % of studied population with notification that most delirious patients were among older age group, ASA-PS class (II &III) and poor preoperative cognitive function assessed by MMSE.