Incidence and risk factors of early delirium after cardiac surgery

The aim of our study was to identify the incidence and risk factors of delirium after cardiac surgery implementing Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC).

87 patients, undergoing cardiac surgery at Vilnius University hospital, were prospectively monitored for postoperative delirium development, during intensive care unit stay.

The incidence of postoperative delirium was 13.30%. No statistically relevant preoperative predictors of delirium were found. The duration of surgery was significantly longer in delirium group (4.51 ± 1.15 versus 3.76 ± 0.97 hours, P = 0.017). Patients in delirium group more often had blood product transfusions (1.50 (± 1.57) versus 0.49 (± 0.91) P = 0.003) and had a higher incidence of low cardiac output syndrome (33.30% versus 3.00%, P = 0.004); they were significantly longer mechanically ventilated (24.31 ± 28.35 versus 8.78 ± 4.77 (P < 0.001)) hours (OR = 1.15 (1.02-1.28)) and had twice longer ICU stay (5.00 ± 2.22 versus 2.60 ± 1.10 (P < 0.001)) days (OR = 1.91 (1.22-3.00)).

The incidence of delirium after cardiac surgery was 13.3%. Independent predictors of delirium were duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay.