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[Development and treatment of delirium in critically ill children]

Marie Winther-Olesen1, Arash Afshari

  • 1Anæstesiologisk Klinik, Juliane Marie Centret, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. mariewo@gmail.com

Ugeskrift for Laeger
|February 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric delirium (PD) is a frequent, underdiagnosed condition in pediatric intensive care units, linked to poor outcomes. More research is vital for evidence-based recommendations on diagnosing and treating pediatric delirium.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pediatrics

Context:

  • Delirium is a common yet often overlooked neuropsychiatric condition in pediatric critical care settings.
  • It frequently arises secondary to underlying medical conditions in children.
  • Paediatric delirium is associated with significant negative health consequences, including increased morbidity, mortality, and extended intensive care unit stays.

Purpose:

  • To introduce paediatric delirium (PD) to readers.
  • To review current knowledge on diagnostic tools, prognosis, and treatment strategies for PD.
  • To highlight the scarcity of existing literature and the urgent need for more clinical studies.

Summary:

  • This review provides an overview of paediatric delirium (PD), a prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder in pediatric intensive care.
  • It examines diagnostic methods, prognostic factors, and therapeutic interventions for PD.
  • The review emphasizes that current literature on PD is limited, underscoring the necessity for further clinical research.

Impact:

  • Increased recognition and diagnosis of paediatric delirium.
  • Improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs associated with PD.
  • Foundation for future evidence-based guidelines and clinical practice improvements in managing paediatric delirium.

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