Delirium in the Critically Ill Child.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Nursing Science

Background:

• Delirium is a significant concern in critically ill children.
• Understanding its assessment, prevention, and management is vital for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scientific literature on delirium in critically ill children.
• To highlight the role of clinical nurse specialists in evidence-based practice translation.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search from 2006-2016 in four major databases.
• Used keywords: "delirium," "child," and "critically ill."

Main Results:

• Delirium prevalence in critically ill children is up to 30%.
• Risk factors include age, illness severity, and mechanical ventilation.
• Adverse outcomes encompass increased mortality, hospital length of stay, and costs.
• Validated screening tools and interventions (environmental, sleep, family care, mobilization) are available.

Conclusions:

• Delirium is common in critically ill children, leading to adverse outcomes.
• Clinical nurse specialists play a key role in implementing evidence-based changes.
• Screening and early intervention are essential for mitigating negative consequences.