Risk Of Postoperative Delirium Research Articles

Rapid evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma – A possible traumatic brain injury (TBI)

The chronic subdural hematoma is an entity, which affects mainly the elderly patients. According to literature, the complication rate was up to 22,7%, including recurrence of hematoma, worsening of the neurological status, postoperative delirium, etc. Treating of a chronic subdural hematoma could be conservative and operative, including twist drill craniostomy, single or multiple burr hole drainage, and craniotomy. In the patients who underwent a decompression of the hematoma a postoperative hyperperfusion syndrome could be observed, according to literature up to 51,4%. This syndrome is associated risk of postoperative delirium and neurological deterioration.The hyperperfusion syndrome is also observed in traumatic brain injury. A rapid decompression of a subdural hematoma leads to a brain shifting to the skull bones and thus a traumatic brain injury due to decompression. The development of the hyperperfusion syndrome could be related to the decompression of the subdural hematoma in a rapid fashion.

Estimating patients’ risk for postoperative delirium from preoperative routine data - Trial design of the PRe-Operative prediction of postoperative DElirium by appropriate SCreening (PROPDESC) study - A monocentre prospective observational trial

BackgroundPostoperative Delirium (POD) is the most common complication of elderly patients after surgery associated with increased postoperative morbidity, persistent care dependency and even mortality. Prevention of POD requires detection of patients at high risk prior to surgery. PROPDESC intends to provide an instrument for preoperative routine screening of patients' risk for POD. MethodsPROPDESC is a monocentric prospective observatory trial including 1000 patients older than 60 years from various disciplines of a university hospital planned for surgery of at least 60 min. To develop a score predicting the risk for POD, anesthesiological stratifications, laboratory values, medication and known risk factors as well as quality of life and cognitive performance are taken into account. POD assessment is performed daily on the first five days after the operation respectively the end of sedation in the intensive care units and normal wards. The score is evaluated from 600 data sets and subsequently validated internally. The most appropriate predictors are determined by a component-wise gradient boosting approach. DiscussionBased on retrospective investigations, etiology of POD is considered multifactorial. By a prospective analysis of various factors, PROPDESC intends to provide an applicable tool to predict the risk for POD from preoperative routine data and assessment of cognitive function. Objective is to establish an automatically generating score in preoperative routine to screen patients for increased risk of POD as starting point for POD reduction and management. Model compilation requires a high significance and enhancement within compound as well as regular availability of the selected predictors. Trial registrationDRKS, DRKS00015715. Registered 13 December 2018 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00015715.

The Effectiveness of Sedative and Non-pharmacological Premedication in Pediatric Anesthesia: A Review Article

Many children who undergo surgery experience significant perioperative anxiety. Preoperative anxiety can prolong induction of anesthesia and postoperative recovery, increase the risk of postoperative delirium, increase pain, and increase analgesic use. Researchers are looking for ways to treat or prevent preoperative anxiety in children and possibly reduce its negative effects after surgery, such interventions include non-pharmacological and premedication interventions with sedation drug prior to surgery. Pretreatment, however, is often performed for children but it is not clear what the best medicine is and how it is prescribed. Among the ways to reduce children's anxiety, the anesthesiologist can use a combination of methods to achieve the best results.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Postoperative Delirium in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background The present study aims to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with postoperative delirium in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Science Citation Index were searched up to August 2019 for studies examining postoperative delirium following spine surgery. Incidence and risk factors associated with delirium were extracted. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for outcomes. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for the study quality evaluation. Results The final analysis includes a total of 40 studies. The pooled analysis reveals that incidence of delirium is 8%, and there are significant differences for developing delirium in age (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.04–1.09), age more than 65 (OR 4.77; 95% CI 4.37–5.16), age more than 70 (OR 15.87; 95% CI 6.03–41.73), and age more than 80 (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.78–2.03) years, male (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.76–0.86), a history of alcohol abuse (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.67–2.56), anxiety (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.04–2.44), congestive heart failure (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.21–1.6), depression (OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.52–3.49), hypertension (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.04–1.2), kidney disease (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.16–1.66), neurological disorder (OR 4.66; 95% CI 4.22–5.11), opioid use (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.18–2.54), psychoses (OR 2.77; 95% CI 2.29–3.25), pulmonary disease (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.27–2.35), higher mini-mental state examination (OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5–0.89), preoperative pain (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.11–2.64), and postoperative urinary tract infection (OR 5.68; 95% CI 2.41–13.39). Conclusions A comprehensive understanding of incidence and risk factors of delirium can improve prevention, diagnosis, and management. Risk of postoperative delirium can be reduced based upon identifiable risk factors.

Apolipoprotein E genotype and the association between C-reactive protein and postoperative delirium: Importance of gene-protein interactions

IntroductionApolipoprotein E (APOE) status may modify the risk of postoperative delirium conferred by inflammation. MethodsWe tested whether APOE modifies the established association between C-reactive protein (CRP) and delirium incidence, severity, and duration in 553 noncardiac surgical patients aged 70 and older. High postoperative plasma CRP (≥234.12 mg/L) was defined by the highest sample-based quartile. Delirium was determined using the Confusion Assessment Method and chart review, and severity was determined by the Confusion Assessment Method––Severity score. ResultsAPOE ε4 carrier prevalence was 19%, and postoperative delirium occurred in 24%. The relationship between CRP and delirium incidence, severity, and duration differed by ε4 status. Among ε4 carriers, there was a strong relationship between high CRP (vs. low CRP) and delirium incidence (relative risk [95% confidence interval], 3.0 [1.4–6.7]); however, no significant association was observed among non-ε4 carriers (relative risk [95% CI], 1.2 [0.8–1.7]). DiscussionOur findings raise the possibility that APOE ε4 carrier status may modify the relationship between postoperative day 2 CRP levels and postoperative delirium.

The effect of a multidisciplinary care bundle on the incidence of delirium after hip fracture surgery: a quality improvement study.

Delirium is a common complication following hip fracture surgery. We introduced a peri-operative care bundle that standardised management in the emergency department, operating theatre and ward. This incorporated: use of fascia iliaca blocks; rationalisation of analgesia; avoidance of drugs known to trigger delirium; a regular education program for staff; and continuous auditing of compliance. The study was conducted between June 2017 and December 2018. We recruited 150 patients before (control group) and 150 patients after (care bundle group) the introduction of the care bundle. In patients having surgery for a hip fracture, there was a lower incidence of delirium on the third postoperative day in the care bundle group compared with the control group (33 patients (22%) vs. 49 patients (33%)), respectively; p=0.04). Patients in the care bundle group had an adjusted OR of 2.2 (95%CI 1.1-4.4) (p=0.03) for the avoidance of delirium on the third postoperative day. There was no difference between groups for the secondary outcome measures (measured at 30days postoperatively) including: all-cause mortality; composite morbidity; institutionalisation; and walking status. During the study period, compliance with elements of the care bundle improved in the emergency department (49 patients (33%) compared with 85 patients (59%); p<0.001) and anaesthetic department (40 patients (27%) compared with 104 patients (69%); p<0.001), while orthogeriatrics maintained a high level of compliance (140 patients (93%) compared with 143 patients (95%); p=0.45). There was a clinically and statistically significant reduction in the incidence of delirium following hip fracture surgery in patients treated with a multidisciplinary care bundle.

Independent Association Between Type of Intraoperative Blood Transfusion and Postoperative Delirium After Complex Spinal Fusion for Adult Deformity Correction.

Retrospective cohort study. To determine whether type of intraoperative blood transfusion used is associated with increased incidence of postoperative delirium after complex spine fusion involving five levels or greater. Postoperative delirium after spine surgery has been associated with age, cognitive status, and several comorbidities. Intraoperative allogenic blood transfusions have previously been linked to greater complication risks and length of hospital stay. However, whether type of intraoperative blood transfusion used increases the risk for postoperative delirium after complex spinal fusion remains relatively unknown. The medical records of 130 adult (≥18 years old) spine deformity patients undergoing elective, primary complex spinal fusion (more than or equal to five levels) for deformity correction at a major academic institution from 2010 to 2015 were reviewed. We identified 104 patients who encountered an intraoperative blood transfusion. Of the 104, 15 (11.5%) had Allogenic-only, 23 (17.7%) had Autologous-only, and 66 (50.8%) had Combined transfusions. The primary outcome investigated was the rate of postoperative delirium. There were significant differences in estimated blood loss (Combined: 2155.5 ± 1900.7 mL vs. Autologous: 1396.5 ± 790.0 mL vs. Allogenic: 1071.3 ± 577.8 mL vs. None: 506.9 ± 427.3 mL, P < 0.0001) and amount transfused (Combined: 1739.7 ± 1127.6 mL vs. Autologous: 465.7 ± 289.7 mL vs. Allogenic: 986.9 ± 512.9 mL, P < 0.0001). The Allogenic cohort had a significantly higher proportion of patients experiencing delirium (Combined: 7.6% vs. Autologous: 17.4% vs. Allogenic: 46.7% vs. None: 11.5%, P = 0.002). In multivariate nominal-logistic regression analysis, Allogenic (odds ratio [OR]: 24.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] [3.930, 156.702], P = 0.0002) and Autologous (OR: 6.43, 95% CI [1.156, 35.772], P = 0.0335) transfusions were independently associated with postoperative delirium. Our study suggests that there may be an independent association between intraoperative autologous and allogenic blood transfusions and postoperative delirium after complex spinal fusion. Further studies are necessary to identify the physiological effect of blood transfusions to better overall patient care and reduce healthcare expenditures. 3.

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and postoperative delirium and pain: an observational study of a surgical cohort.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are at increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes, such as cardiac and respiratory complications. It has been hypothesised that obstructive sleep apnoea also increases the risk for postoperative delirium and acute postoperative pain. We conducted a retrospective, observational study investigating the relationship of obstructive sleep apnoea with postoperative delirium and acute postoperative pain severity. Patients were classified as being at high risk for obstructive sleep apnoea if they had been diagnosed with this condition, or if they were positive for more than four factors using the 'STOP-BANG' screening tool. Adjusted logistic regression was used to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnoea and postoperative delirium, and multivariable linear regression to study the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and postoperative pain severity. The incidence of postoperative delirium was 307 in 1441 patients (21.3%; 95%CI 19.2-23.5%). In unadjusted analysis, high risk for obstructive sleep apnoea was associated with delirium, with an odds ratio (95%CI) of 1.77 (1.22-2.57; p=0.003). After adjustment for pre-specified variables, the association was not statistically significant with odds ratio 1.34 (0.80-2.23; p=0.27). The mean (SD) maximum pain (resting or provoked) reported for the entire cohort was 63.8 (27.9)mm on a 0-100mm visual analogue scale. High risk for obstructive sleep apnoea was not associated with postoperative pain severity (β-coefficient 2.82; 95%CI, -2.34-7.97; p=0.28). These findings suggest that obstructive sleep apnoea is unlikely to be a strong risk factor for postoperative delirium or acute postoperative pain severity.

Physical Activity and Risk of Postoperative Delirium.

Regular physical activity (PA) has been associated with improved cognitive function, but its effect on postoperative delirium (POD) has not been established. Our objectives were to determine the effect of baseline PA on the incidence of POD in older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery and to determine whether these effects were independent of cognitive reserve. We hypothesize that PA protects against POD by bolstering physiologic reserve needed to withstand the stressors of surgery. Secondary analysis of a prospective, single-center, cohort study. Urban academic hospital. A total of 132 nondemented, English-speaking adults older than 60 years undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Subjects were screened for POD and delirium severity using the Confusion Assessment Method and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale. Baseline cognitive activities and PAs were assessed with a validated Leisure Activity Scale. Regular PA was categorized as 6 to 7 days per week. The association of regular PA with incidence of POD was assessed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, cognitive reserve, and cognitive function. Linear regression was used to assess the association of delirium severity with regular PA. Of 132 patients, 41 (31.1%) developed POD. Regular PA was associated with a 74% lower odds of developing POD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08-0.82). There was no significant interaction between PA and cognitive reserve (P = .70). Of 85 women, 25 (29.4%), and of 47 men, 16 (34.0%) developed POD. In stratified analysis, women who engaged in regular PA had dramatically lower odds of POD (OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.01-0.63) compared with men (OR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.18-4.97). Regular PA is associated with decreased incidence of POD, especially among women. Future studies should address the basis of sex differences in PA benefits on delirium. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2260-2266, 2019.

Obstructive sleep apnoea, positive airway pressure treatment and postoperative delirium: protocol for a retrospective observational study

IntroductionObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common among older surgical patients, and delirium is a frequent and serious postoperative complication. Emerging evidence suggests that OSA increases the risk for postoperative delirium....

Postoperative delirium prediction model for elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery

Objective To establish a preliminary model which can effectively predict the risk for postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly orthopedic patients and verify its effectiveness. Methods This prospective study involved 2 cohorts. For an analysis cohort, the assessment data of 148 elderly orthopedic patients were collected who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June to October 2017. The relevant risk factors for POD (gender, age, BMI, schooling < 9 years, history of smoking and alcohol drinking, concomitant diseases and perioperative factors) were screened after comparing POD and non-POD patients. All the risk factors were analyzed and a predictive model was established after valuation of independent risk factors. A predictive cohort of 66 patients was included according to the same inclusion and exclusion criteria as the analysis cohort out of the patients who had been treated at our hospital from November to December 2017. The 2 cohorts were scored by the predictive model to verify the validity of the model. Results A total of 18 risk factors were identified in this study. In the analysis cohort, age (P=0.006), schooling 75 years was assigned 3 points, schooling < 9 years 2 points and intraoperative infusion of allogeneic blood 5 points. The validity of the ROC curve was verified for the predictive model. According to the ROC curve, the analysis cohort had AUC=0.66 and the predictive cohort AUC=0.75, indicating a certain predictive value of the model. Conclusion Our predictive model can be used to effectively screen out those with a high risk for postoperative delirium from elderly orthopedic patients. Key words: Aged; Delirium; Forecasting; Orthopedic surgery; Effectiveness

Association between preoperative nutritional status and postoperative delirium in individuals with coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A prospective cohort study.

The prevalence of delirium and undernutrition are both relatively high subsequent to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between preoperative malnutrition and the occurrence of delirium after CABG surgery. In this prospective cohort study, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and adductor pollicis muscle thickness of 398 adult patients before CABG surgery were measured by a single trained dietitian. Also, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) and subjective global assessment (SGA) were obtained from patients. Delirium was defined by the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit. SPSS software was used for performing the statistical analyses. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the effect of various factors on the development of delirium. Postoperative delirium was detected in 17% of patients (n = 68). Multivariate regression analysis adjusted by other risk factors indicated that risk for delirium was 1.56-fold higher in patients with NRS-2002 >3 (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.24; P = 0.001). Severe undernutrition at admission as assessed by SGA was independently associated with the occurrence of delirium (OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.02-3.48; P = 0.005). Risk for delirium was 1.26-fold higher in patients with adductor pollicis muscle thickness <15 mm (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-3.14; P = 0.02). Since the prevalence of delirium is relatively high in CABG surgery and undernutrition is related to postoperative delirium, considering nutrition status with NRS-2002, SGA, or adductor pollicis muscle thickness before surgery could decrease the risk for postoperative delirium.

Geriatric Anaesthesia for Centenarians- A Challenging, Learning Experience!

With improving healthcare facilities, the geriatric population in India is on the rise. Anaesthesia in the geriatric age group poses many challenges to the peri-operative physician because of the decreased functional reserve and various comorbidities associated with advanced age. In addition to that, there is greater risk of post-operative cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Anaesthesia in patients above 100 years is a sub-speciality in itself, with several special considerations. We, hereby present the case of a 102-year-old female patient with severe aortic stenosis posted for left-sided dynamic hip screw fixation on an emergency basis under low dose, unilateral spinal anaesthesia, supplemented with slow and graded epidural anaesthesia.

CSF Beta-amyloid 1-42 Concentration Predicts Delirium Following Elective Arthroplasty Surgery in an Observational Cohort Study.

To test the hypothesis that APOE ε4 status and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42, T-tau and P-tau would independently predict the risk of postoperative delirium. Delirium following surgery is common and associated with adverse outcomes. Age and cognitive impairment are consistent risk factors for postoperative delirium. This observational cohort study recruited 282 participants aged 65 years or older, without a diagnosis of dementia, admitted for primary elective hip or knee arthroplasty. Cognitive tests were undertaken preoperatively, blood and CSF were sampled at the time of spinal anesthesia, and participants were assessed daily postoperatively for delirium. Increasing age (P = 0.04), preoperative comorbidity (P = 0.03), type of surgery (P = 0.05), intravenous opioid usage (P = 0.04), and low CSF Aβ42 (P < 0.01) were independent predictors of postoperative delirium. This study is the first to show an independent association between CSF Aβ42 and delirium incidence in an elective surgical population, suggesting that postoperative delirium may indicate incipient Alzheimer disease.

Use of dexmedetomidine in pediatric cardiac anesthesia.

In recent years, ultrafast-track anesthesia with on-table extubation and concepts of accelerated postoperative care have gained increasing support in pediatric congenital cardiac surgery. It is believed that such approaches might ideally combine economic benefits with a striving for continuous improvement of patient outcomes. The present review summarizes the role of dexmedetomidine (DEX) in this setting. DEX is a clinical multipurpose drug that mediates its diverse responses through the activation of α2-adrenoreceptors. In pediatric cardiac surgery it has various applications. Used as a premedication, DEX provides arousable sedation and anxiolysis. As an intraoperative adjunctive agent of balanced general anesthesia the primary objectives for its administration are attenuation of the neuro-humoral stress response and facilitation of early extubation. During ICU treatment DEX spares opioids, prevents the risk of postoperative delirium or emergence agitation and impacts on important patient-centered outcomes, such as duration of mechanical ventilation, restart of enteral nutrition or length of ICU stay. Due to a favorable mix of beneficial physiologic actions and a limited adverse effect profile, DEX is established in the perioperative pediatric cardiac surgery setting. However, evidence from high-quality randomized controlled trials on the effects of supplemental DEX on meaningful patient outcomes is scarce, and research on the role of DEX in providing cardioprotection, neuroprotection, or renoprotection is still at its beginning. DEX has developed to one of the main agents in the armamentarium of cardiac anesthesiologists and pediatric intensivists, but it should not be regarded as the new 'magic bullet'.

Low preoperative glomerular filtration rate is associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled study

Objective To evaluate the association between preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate and the risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients. Methods The current study was a secondary analysis based on data from a randomized controlled study where 700 elderly patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after noncardiac surgery. The preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) was used to evaluate the occurrence of delirium twice a day in the first 7 d after surgery. Univariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify potential factors associated with the development of postoperative delirium, and factors with P<0.05 were included in a multivariate Logistic regression model to analyze the risk adjusted association between preoperative eGFR and postoperative delirium. Results The median of preoperative eGFR of all enrolled 700 patients was 72.0 ml·min-1·1.73m-2. The incidence of postoperative delirium was higher in patients with low preoperative eGFR (<72.0 ml·min-1·1.73m-2) than those with high preoperative eGFR (≥72.0 ml·min-1·1.73m-2) (19.1% vs. 12.6%, P=0.017). After correction for confounding factors, higher preoperative eGFR was associated with a lower risk of postoperative delirium (OR=0.990, 95%CI 0.980-1.000, P=0.041), a preoperative eGFR <72.0 ml·min-1·1.73 m-2 was an independent risk factor of postoperative delirium (OR=1.796, 95%CI 1.157-2.789, P=0.009). Conclusions For elderly patients admitted to ICU after noncardiac surgery, a low preoperative eGFR is associated with an increased risk of postoperative delirium. Key words: Aged; Non-cardiac surgery; Glomerular filtration rate; Postoperative delirium

Intraoperative blood transfusion predicts postoperative delirium among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery: A prospective cohort study.

To evaluate the roles of preoperative anemia and intraoperative blood transfusion in the development of postoperative delirium among older patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. This prospective cohort study recruited subjects aged 60years old and above who were admitted for elective orthopedic surgery in a tertiary medical center during April 2011 to December 2013. Demographic data (age, gender, body mass index [BMI], and educational level), surgery-related factors (American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] class, type of anesthesia and surgery, and intraoperative blood transfusion), results of geriatric assessment (hearing/visual impairment, cognition, depressive mood, comorbidity, malnutrition, polypharmacy, activities of daily living [ADL], and instrumental activities of daily living [IADL]), laboratory data, length of hospital stay, and the development of postoperative delirium were collected for analysis. Overall, 461 patients (mean age: 73.5±7.5years, 42.1% males) were enrolled for study, and 37 (8.0%) of them developed postoperative delirium. We categorized all subjects into four groups based on anemia on admission and blood transfusion during operation or not. Multivariate logistic regression showed that subjects with anemia on admission and received intraoperative blood transfusion were at higher risk of developing postoperative delirium (adjusted odds ratio 3.090; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.070-8.926) and those without anemia on admission but received intraoperative blood transfusion were at marginal risk (adjusted odds ratio 2.906; 95% CI, 0.912-9.259) after adjustment for covariates. Anemic older patients receiving intraoperative blood transfusion during operation were at the greatest risk for postoperative delirium when they underwent elective orthopedic surgery. Further intervention study is needed to reduce the risk of postoperative delirium for these patients.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Spermidine, Glutamine and Putrescine Predict Postoperative Delirium Following Elective Orthopaedic Surgery

Delirium is a marker of brain vulnerability, associated with increasing age, pre-existing cognitive impairment and, recently, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. This nested case-control study used a targeted quantitative metabolomic methodology to profile the preoperative CSF of patients (n = 54) who developed delirium following arthroplasty (n = 28) and those who did not (n = 26). The aim was to identify novel preoperative markers of delirium, and to assess potential correlations with clinical data. Participants without a diagnosis of dementia (≥65 years) undergoing elective primary hip or knee arthroplasty were postoperatively assessed for delirium once-daily for three days. Groups were compared using multivariate, univariate and receiving operator characteristic (ROC) methods. Multivariate modelling using Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) of metabolomic data readily distinguished between delirium and control groups (R2 ≤ 0.56; Q2 ≤ 0.10). Three metabolites (spermidine, putrescine and glutamine) significantly differed between groups (P < 0.05; FDR < 0.07), and performed well as CSF biomarkers (ROC > 0.75). The biomarker performance of the two polyamines (spermidine/putrescine) was enhanced by ratio with CSF Aβ42 (ROC > 0.8), and spermidine significantly correlated with Aβ42 (pearson r = −0.32; P = 0.018). These findings suggest that spermidine and putrescine levels could be useful markers of postoperative delirium risk, particularly when combined with Aβ42, and this requires further investigation.

Relative cerebral hyperperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with risk for postoperative delirium: a cross-sectional cohort study

BackgroundOur objective was to evaluate if changes in on-pump cerebral blood flow, relative to the pre-bypass baseline, are associated with the risk for postoperative delirium (POD) following cardiac surgery.MethodsIn 47 consecutive adult patients, right middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAV) was assessed using transcranial Doppler sonography. Individual values, measured during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), were normalized to the pre-bypass baseline value and termed MCAVrel. An MCAVrel > 100% was defined as cerebral hyperperfusion. Prevalence of POD was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit.ResultsOverall prevalence of POD was 27%. In the subgroup without POD, 32% of patients had experienced relative cerebral hyperperfusion during CPB, compared to 67% in the subgroup with POD (p < 0.05). The mean averaged MCAVrel was 90 (±21) % in the no-POD group vs. 112 (±32) % in the POD group (p < 0.05), and patients developing delirium experienced cerebral hyperperfusion during CPB for about 39 (±35) min, compared to 6 (±11) min in the group without POD (p < 0.001). In a subcohort with pre-bypass baseline MCAV (MCAVbas) below the median MCAVbas of the whole cohort, prevalence of POD was 17% when MCAVrel during CPB was kept below 100%, but increased to 53% when these patients actually experienced relative cerebral hyperperfusion.ConclusionsOur results suggest a critical role for cerebral hyperperfusion in the pathogenesis of POD following on-pump open-heart surgery, recommending a more individualized hemodynamic management, especially in the population at risk.

Preoperative stratification for postoperative delirium: obstructive sleep apnea is a predictor, the STOP-BANG is not?

In the October 2018 issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery , Wang et al . published a study intended to test the hypothesis that STOP-BANG can contribute to predict the risk for postoperative delirium (POD) (1). In this paper, the authors report data from an a priori planned sub-analysis of the “PrEventing POstoperative Delirium” (PEPOD) trial: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, single-center clinical trial on the effects of low-dose haloperidol in patients that present POD after major thoracic surgery (protocol NCT02213900).