Morning Report Questions Q: How is delirium defined, what is its most common feature, and what is increased mortality risk of delirium in a critically ill patient? A: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV), lists four domains of delirium: disturbance of consciousness, change in cognition, development over a short period, and fluctuation. Delirium is defined by the National Institutes of Health as “sudden severe confusion and rapid changes in brain function that occur with physical or mental illness.” The most common feature of delirium, thought by many to be its cardinal sign, is inattention. Delirium is a nonspecific but generally reversible manifestation of acute illness that appears to have many causes, including recovery from a sedated or oversedated state. A diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients is associated with increased mortality (estimated as a 10% increase in the relative risk of death for each day of delirium) and decreased long-term cognitive function. - See more at: blogs.nejm.org/now/index.php/sedation-and-delirium-in-the-icu/2014/01/31/#sthash.sK1Zdkqj.dpuf
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:09:01 +0000
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