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Published on: September 24, 2020
Preventing delirium in the intensive care unit
Nathan E Brummel1, Timothy D Girard
1Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. nathan.brummel@vanderbilt.edu
Delirium is common in the intensive care unit (ICU). Addressing modifiable risk factors like sedation and immobility using the ABCDE approach can help prevent and shorten this deadly syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Delirium is a frequent and serious complication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
- Critically ill patients often face numerous risk factors contributing to delirium development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the prevalence of delirium in the ICU.
- To emphasize the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors for delirium.
- To introduce the ABCDE approach as a strategy for prevention and management.
Main Methods:
- Review of common risk factors for delirium in critically ill patients.
- Description of the ABCDE approach as a bundled intervention.
Main Results:
- Modifiable risk factors such as sedation, medications, immobility, and sleep disruption are key targets.
- The ABCDE approach offers a structured method for clinicians.
Conclusions:
- Implementing the ABCDE approach can aid in preventing and reducing the duration of ICU delirium.
- This bundled strategy can mitigate adverse outcomes associated with delirium and critical illness.
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