Outcomes in Post-operative Delirium Following Bowel Resection: A Single Center Retrospective Review

Area of Science:

• Surgery
• Geriatrics
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Delirium is linked to poor surgical outcomes, including cognitive decline and extended hospital stays.
• Risk factors include surgery length, complexity, invasiveness, and comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the incidence of post-operative delirium in patients undergoing bowel resection.
• To evaluate the impact of delirium on outcomes in both elective and emergency surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study utilizing an institutional patient registry.
• Included 1934 patients undergoing bowel resection over 3.5 years.
• Measured delirium incidence using the Confusion Assessment Method, comparing outcomes like mortality, length of stay, and cost.

Main Results:

• Overall delirium incidence was 8.8%.
• Delirium patients were more likely to be older, have emergency surgery, longer stays, and higher costs.
• Mortality was 14% with delirium vs. 0.1% without; similar mortality rates (11-13%) were observed in elective and emergency delirium cases.

Conclusions:

• Post-operative delirium is a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes and mortality after bowel resection.
• While more common in emergency surgery, delirium in elective cases carries a comparable mortality risk.