Delirium in neurosurgery

Excerpt

The temporary (hours–days) decline in a patient’s mental baseline function is commonly referred to as delirium. Its presentations include disturbances in attention, consciousness, and cognition, encompassing hyper- and/or hypoactive forms, frequently impaired sleep-wake cycle, and perceptual (hallucinations and delusions) and emotional disorders. The overall prevalence of delirium ranges around 1–2%, with a higher prevalence (about 14%) in adults > 85 years. High-risk populations include patients undergoing surgery (15–53%), patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU; 70–87%) or (elderly) individuals in nursing homes (up to 60%) [1]. …