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[The abbreviated mental test in a German version for detection of postoperative delirium]
U Linstedt1, A Berkau, O Meyer
1Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensiv- und Schmerztherapie, BG Kliniken Bergmannsheil,Ruhr-Universität Bochum. linstedt@anaesthesia.de
Objectives:
Delirium is the most common acute organic psychosis postoperatively, and occurs more frequently in the elderly than anticipated. The abbreviated mental test (AMT) is a widely used cognitive test in Great Britain. The present study assessed the AMT in a German version for diagnosis of postoperative delirium.
Methods:
40 patients (older than 65 years), scheduled for total knee or hip replacement, were tested repeatedly for delirium according to the ICD-10. These patients were investigated with the AMT simultaneously by a second investigator.
Results:
Delirium was present in four orthopaedic patients (10 %) and was diagnosed correctly in these patients by the AMT. All but one patient without delirium showed no deterioriation in AMT score.
Conclusion:
As in Great Britain, the AMT in its German version is useful in diagnosing delirium. We recommend the use of the AMT preoperatively in elderly patients at risk for delirium.