Post-operative cognitive dysfunction, including delirium, can have significant impact on a patient’s recovery and long-term quality of life following cardiac surgery. Pre-operative risk stratification, early detection, and management of delirium after cardiac surgery are essential. A multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals will help ensure optimal patient care.
Post-operative Cognitive Dysfunction (POCD), including delirium, occurs more commonly following cardiac surgery than many healthcare providers recognize. The effects on patient outcomes include:
Several risk factors have been identified that can increase the likelihood of developing POCD. These include:
Screening for delirium in critically ill patients involves a series of standardized assessments and evaluations to identify the presence of acute confusion, altered mental status, and other cognitive impairments. Several tools and methods may be employed in clinical settings to diagnose and manage delirium efficiently.
Management and prevention strategies for postoperative delirium include:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This summary was written with assistance from artificial intelligence. All text was reviewed, edited, and supplemented by the listed editor(s). Reference: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Sept 25 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
ERAS Cardiac VTC Disclaimer:
The VTC, and all included content, is intended to inform ERAS Cardiac Members in a multitude of topics related to enhanced recovery. The information included has been provided by other enhanced recovery experts and should be used for educational purposes only. It is not intended to describe, recommend, or suggest any specific medical practice or intervention, nor should it be considered as formal medical advice or consultation. The ERAS Cardiac Society cannot guarantee that the information on the VTC is accurate or complete in every respect. Therefore, ERAS Cardiac Society is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content, or medical results that occur with the application of the information obtained while using the VTC. All healthcare professionals should continue to use sound clinical judgment and prescribe therapies based on the best medical knowledge at their disposal.
All the material presented on the VTC is the intellectual property of the ERAS Cardiac Society, its contributors, and its sponsors. Unless explicitly stated, the information, images, audio, video, and other content may not be reproduced (in whole or in part) in any way without the written permission of the ERAS Cardiac Society.
If you have any questions or comments about the ERAS Cardiac VTC, please email: VTC@erascardiac.org