Relation between Delirium Symptoms and Patients’ Outcomes during the Postoperative Period in Intensive Care Units

Background: Postoperative delirium is a neurocognitive complication with adverse consequences that may extend far beyond surgical recovery. Postoperative delirium is associated with a delay in postoperative recovery, increased costs, and increased morbidity and mortality. Aim: This study aimed to assess the relation between delirium symptoms and patients’ outcomes during the postoperative period in intensive care units. Study design: A descriptive exploratory research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: This study was conducted in the intensive care unit at El-Demerdash hospital which affiliated to Ain Shams University hospitals. Subjects: Purposeful samples of 325 postoperative patients admitted to the intensive care unit were included in this study. Tools of data collection: (1) Patients' assessment questionnaire, (2) Richmond agitation-sedation scale, (3) Intensive care delirium screening checklist, (4) Outcomes assessment questionnaire. Results: The result of the current study showed that 73.3% of delirious patients had stayed in the ICU from 5-10 days, 43.4% remove intravenous lines accidently, 28.9% removed central line. There was a statistical relation between type of delirium and the studied patients’ cognitive dysfunction p-value < 0.05. Conclusion: Delirium symptoms among the studied patients were altered patients’ level of consciousness, attention, orientation and hallucinations. In addition to, psychomotor agitation / retardation, sleep/wake cycle disturbance and inappropriate mood/speech. As well, the results illustrated that there was no relation between delirium type and patients’ readmission to the ICU, stroke, acute kidney injury and ICU mortality. Recommendations: Patients in the intensive care units should be assessed for delirium symptoms for early management and to prevent further complications and improve patients’ outcomes.