Delirium

Author(s):  
Daniel Davis ◽  
Elizabeth Teale ◽  
Rowan H. Harwood

Delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric disturbance secondary to a pathophysiological insult, including illness, injury, or the effects or withdrawal of drugs. Features are variable, and fluctuate, with drowsiness or inattention, change in cognition, and often delusions, hallucinations, emotional, autonomic, and motor disturbance. It is commoner in those with prior dementia, and is seen in medical, surgical, intensive care, and palliative settings. Pathological mechanisms are uncertain. Nonpharmacological prevention strategies reduce incidence by up to 30%, including early mobilization, drug review, and sleep hygiene. Diagnosis is clinical, supported by various tools. Delirium is often underdiagnosed. Treatment comprises identifying and treating the (sometimes multiple) causes, avoiding complications, rehabilitation, and symptomatic relief of distress. Short-term, low-dose antipsychotic drugs may be used, but with limited supporting evidence. Prognosis is variable: some with delirium resolve within 24 hours, one-quarter persist for three months, and some never recover. Morality is up to 40% at six months.

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 646-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Buchheit ◽  
Daniel Dante Yeh ◽  
Matthias Eikermann ◽  
Hsin Lin

Background: Ketamine at subanesthetic doses has been shown to provide analgesic effects without causing respiratory depression and may be a viable option in mechanically ventilated patients to assist with extubation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-dose ketamine on opioid consumption in mechanically ventilated adult surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: A retrospective review of mechanically ventilated adult patients receiving low-dose ketamine continuous infusion (1-5 µcg/kg/min) for adjunctive pain control admitted to surgical ICUs was conducted. Patients were included if they met an ICU safety screen for a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) implying extubation readiness pending SBT results. The primary end point was the slope of change in morphine equivalents (MEs) 12 hours pre- and postketamine infusion. We hypothesized that low-dose ketamine would increase the slope of opioid dose reduction. Results: Forty patients were analyzed. The median dose of ketamine was 5 µg/kg/min (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.5-5) and the treatment duration was 1.89 days (IQR: 0.96-3.06). Prior to ketamine, the majority of patients received volume-controlled or pressure-supported ventilation with a median duration of 2.05 days (IQR: 1.38-3.61). The median time from the initiation of ketamine to extubation was 1.44 days (IQR: 0.58-2.66). For the primary outcome, there was a significant difference in the slope of ME changes from 1 to −0.265 mg/h 12 hours pre- and postketamine initiation ( P < .001). For the secondary outcomes, ketamine was associated with a decrease in vasopressor requirements (phenylephrine equivalent 70 vs 40 mg/h; P = .019). Conclusion: Low-dose continuous infusion ketamine in mechanically ventilated adult patients was associated with a significant increase in the rate of opioid dose reduction without adverse effects on hemodynamic stability.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia DiSabatino Smith ◽  
Petra Grami

BackgroundStrategies for preventing delirium include early identification and avoiding or modifying patient, environmental, and iatrogenic factors. Minimal research exists on a prescriptive delirium prevention bundle that details elements or strategies for each bundle component. Even less research has been focused on nurse-driven interventions or components.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a delirium prevention bundle in decreasing delirium incidence in 2 medical-surgical intensive care units in a large Texas medical center.MethodsResearchers used the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit to assess delirium incidence by using a controlled interventional cohort design with 447 delirium-negative critically ill patients. Bundle components consist of sedation cessation, pain management, sensory stimulation, early mobilization, and sleep promotion.ResultsThe intervention, analyzed by using a logistic regression model, reduced the odds of delirium by 78% (odds ratio, 0.22; P = .001).ConclusionsThe delirium prevention bundle was effective in reducing the incidence of delirium in critically ill medical-surgical patients. Further validation studies are under way.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Amanda Mariano Morais ◽  
Daiane Naiara Da Penha ◽  
Danila Gonçalves Costa ◽  
Vanessa Beatriz Aparecida Fontes Schweling ◽  
Jaqueline Aparecida Almeida Spadari ◽  
...  

Introduction: The functional benefits of Early Mobilization (EM) capable of minimizing limitations and deformities in the face of immobility are clear, but there are many barriers to conduct EM as a routine practice in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), including the use of vasoactive drugs (VAD), since it is directly related to weakness acquired in the ICU, in addition to the resistance of the multidisciplinary team to mobilize the patient using VAD. Objective: The objective of this literature review is to raise a scientific basis in the management of critically ill patients using DVAs for EM in the ICU. Methods: It is an integrative review of the literature, with research in the databases: PEDro, Pubmed, Lilacs, with articles published between 2011 and 2018, in Portuguese and English, using the terms: vasoactive drugs, early mobility, exercise in UCI, vasopressor and its equivalents in Portuguese. Results: Nine studies were included that analyzed the EM intervention in patients using VAD, with or without ventilatory support. There was no homogeneous treatment among the researched works, varying between exercises in bed and outside, with passive and / or active action. However, regardless of the conduct, there was an improvement in the cardiovascular response without relevant changes regarding the use of VAD. Conclusion: EM is not contraindicated for patients in the ICU with the use of VAD, and it was shown to be effective and safe without promoting relevant hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory changes, which would determine its absolute contraindication.Keywords: vasodilator agents, early ambulation, intensive care units, physical therapy specialty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Giulliano Gardenghi

Introduction: Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have several deleterious effects of immobilization, including weakness acquired in the ICU. Exercise appears as an alternative for early mobilization in these patients. Objective: This work aims to highlight the hemodynamic repercussions and the applicability of exercise in the ICU. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out, with articles published between 2010 and 2018, in the Lilacs, PubMed and Scielo databases, using the following search terms: exercise, cycle ergometer, intensive care units, early mobilization, mechanical ventilation, artificial respiration. Results: 13 articles were included, addressing hemodynamic monitoring and the role of exercise as early mobilization, with or without ventilatory support. The exercise sessions were feasible and safe within the ICU environment. Conclusion: Physical exercise can be performed safely in an ICU environment, if respecting a series of criteria such as those presented here. It is important that the assistant professional seeks to prescribe interventions based on Exercise Physiology that can positively intervene in the functional prognosis in critically ill patients.Keywords: exercise, intensive care units, patient safety.


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