Delirium in Hospitalized Older Adults

N Engl J Med. 2017 Oct 12;377(15):1456-1466. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1605501.

Abstract

A 75-year-old man is admitted for scheduled major abdominal surgery. He is functionally independent, with mild forgetfulness. His intraoperative course is uneventful, but on postoperative day 2, severe confusion and agitation develop. What is going on? How would you manage this patient’s care? Could his condition have been prevented?

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Delirium / chemically induced
  • Delirium / diagnosis
  • Delirium / etiology
  • Delirium / therapy*
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / chemically induced
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors