Risk Factors and Incidence of Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Laryngectomy

To explore the risk factors and incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer.

Prospective cohort study.

Shanghai Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Fudan University.

A total of 323 patients underwent laryngectomy from April 4, 2018, to December 28, 2018. Perioperative data were collected. The primary outcome was the presence of POD as defined by the Confusion Assessment Method diagnostic algorithm. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with POD.

Of the patients who underwent laryngectomy during the study period, 99.1% were male, with a mean age of 60.0 years. Of these patients, 28 developed POD, with most episodes (88.1%) occurring during the first 3 postoperative days. The type of POD was hyperactive in 7 cases and hypoactive in 21 cases. The mean duration of POD was 1 day. The mean Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 score (a measure of POD severity) was 11.5. For the multivariable analysis, risk factors associated with POD included advanced cancer stage, lower educational level, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and intraoperative hypotension lasting at least 30 minutes. Intraoperative dexmedetomidine use was protective against POD.

This study identified risk factors associated with POD, providing a target population for quality improvement initiatives. Furthermore, intraoperative dexmedetomidine use can reduce POD.