Postoperative confusion is a serious problem of elderly patients in most large hospitals. The person may quickly switch back and forth from hyperactive to hypoactive states. Delirium is a common complication in elderly hospitalized patients. Confused about Post-Operative Confusion Posted by The John A. Hartford Foundation on June 2, 2011 We continue to receive a tremendous response to Nora's blog about her father's post-operative confusion and know that many of you have experienced similar situations. It may not start until a few days after surgery, comes and goes, and usually disappears after about a week. It is nurse and doctor intensive. Postoperative Confusion and other Cognitive Disorders LisEvered Department of Anaesthesia, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne Senior Scientist, Centre for Anaesthesia & Cognitive Function Chair, International Alzheimer’s Association, Anesthesiology Professional Interest Area A: Delirium is a term meaning “sudden confusion.” It refers to a sudden change in mental function.
Often it is a symptom of an acute underlying disorder which needs early treatment. Postoperative delirium is a behavioral syndrome that occurs in the perioperative period. Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at the Alfred ICU in Melbourne. Recognition.

Postoperative delirium – This is a temporary condition that causes the patient to be confused, disoriented, unaware of their surroundings, and have problems with memory and paying attention. Mixed delirium. Postoperative confusion is common after major surgery, particularly cardiothoracic surgery, where elderly patients with comorbidity undergo intense monitoring postop. General anesthesia, which renders the patient unconscious for the procedure and sometimes for hours afterward, is more likely to cause confusion than other types of anesthesia. Q: What is post-operative delirium? Recognizing patients who are at high risk is key to reducing the prevalence of these conditions as well as their long-term sequelae.
Dementia and delirium may be particularly difficult to distinguish, and a person may have both. If the postoperative delirium has been attributed to pain or the use of certain analgesic medication, the nurse must ensure the patient’s pain is managed in a way that isn’t increasing their confusion (Farrell & Dempsey 2013; Marcantonio & Discussant 2012). Perioperative complications specific to elderly patients are becoming increasingly relevant with an aging population (Etzioni et al 2003).Postoperative delirium is a quintessential geriatric complication (Inouye et al 2007).The incidence ranges from 9% to 87% depending on both the patient population and the degree of operative stress (Demeure and Fain 2006).