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ICU Delirium: Diagnosis, Risk Factors, and Management

  • Critical Care Anesthesia (LL Liu, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Intensive care unit delirium is a complex problem associated with significant negative consequences on patient outcomes. Delirium is also known as acute brain dysfunction, reflecting the evolving paradigm that it is a manifestation of acute organ dysfunction in the setting of neurotransmitter imbalances, inflammation, and metabolic derangements. In recent years, strides have been made towards better understanding its management, although much work remains to be done. Here we review the current state of knowledge regarding diagnosis, pathophysiology, risk factors, prevention, and management as supported by recent literature and the 2013 clinical practice guidelines on pain, agitation, and delirium.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Box 298, Boston, MA, 02148, USA

    Carolyn Heeder, Ruben J. Azocar & Andrea Tsai

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  1. Carolyn Heeder
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  2. Ruben J. Azocar
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  3. Andrea Tsai
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Correspondence to Andrea Tsai.

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Carolyn Heeder, Ruben J. Azocar, and Andrea Tsai declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Critical Care Anesthesia.

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Heeder, C., Azocar, R.J. & Tsai, A. ICU Delirium: Diagnosis, Risk Factors, and Management. Curr Anesthesiol Rep 5, 400–406 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40140-015-0125-6

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