EXPERT OPINIONS   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2011 April;77(4):448-56

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Postoperative delirium

Whitlock E. L. ^{1, 2}, Vannucci A. ², Avidan M. S. ^{1, 2} ✉

¹ Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA; ² Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA

Delirium is a common complication during the postoperative period. Because of its significant associations with physical and cognitive morbidity, clinicians should be aware of the evidence-based practices relating to its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Here, we review select recent literature pertaining to the epidemiology and impact of postoperative delirium, the perioperative risk factors for its development and/or exacerbation, and the strategies for its management, with additional attention paid to the population of patients in intensive care units.