Risk factors for postoperative delirium in patients with cardiac surgery

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Patients undergoing intensive care unit (ICU) admission post-cardiac surgery face a high incidence of delirium.
• Delirium in this population is multifactorial, influenced by patient characteristics, disease severity, treatment interventions, and nursing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of postoperative delirium in adult cardiac surgery patients.
• To identify significant risk factors associated with delirium development in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 195 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery at Y University Hospital was studied.
• Data collection encompassed patient demographics, disease status, treatment details, and nursing-related factors.

Main Results:

• The incidence of postoperative delirium was 34.4% (67 out of 195 patients).
• Delirium occurred in 53.7% of cases within the ICU and 46.3% in the general ward.
• Significant risk factors identified include postoperative inflammation, continuous renal replacement therapy, sleep disorders, advanced age, longer ICU stays, stroke history, catheter retention, APACHE II score, and operation duration.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative delirium is a significant complication following cardiac surgery, manifesting both during ICU stays and after transfer to general wards.
• ICU-related factors continue to influence delirium incidence even after patient transfer, highlighting the need for sustained monitoring.