04-12-2012, 04:20 PM
Study Finds Link Between Sleep Apnea and Postoperative Delirium
Study Finds Link Between Sleep Apnea and Postoperative Delirium
Elderly patients with a history of sleep apnea may be more likely to experience postoperative delirium, according to a study published in the April issue of Anesthesiology.
Researchers initially sought a link between preexisting medical conditions and postoperative delirium, a common complication linked to long-term side effects and a heightened death rate in the elderly. After evaluating 106 patients over age 65 undergoing knee arthroplasty, researchers determined that obstructive sleep apnea was the only condition consistently present in patients experiencing delirium following the operation.
Of the 15 patients in the group with sleep apnea, a total of eight (53 percent) experienced postoperative delirium.
___________
POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM
Definition
Delirium is a common and serious altered mental state that may develop due to a wide variety of medical conditions or drug side effects. It is characterized by the following:
Acute onset and fluctuating course
Inattention
Disorganized thinking or a change in cognition
Altered level of consciousness.
Fair use from:
http://www.beckersasc.com/anesthesia/stu...irium.html
Elderly patients with a history of sleep apnea may be more likely to experience postoperative delirium, according to a study published in the April issue of Anesthesiology.
Researchers initially sought a link between preexisting medical conditions and postoperative delirium, a common complication linked to long-term side effects and a heightened death rate in the elderly. After evaluating 106 patients over age 65 undergoing knee arthroplasty, researchers determined that obstructive sleep apnea was the only condition consistently present in patients experiencing delirium following the operation.
Of the 15 patients in the group with sleep apnea, a total of eight (53 percent) experienced postoperative delirium.
___________
POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM
Definition
Delirium is a common and serious altered mental state that may develop due to a wide variety of medical conditions or drug side effects. It is characterized by the following:
Acute onset and fluctuating course
Inattention
Disorganized thinking or a change in cognition
Altered level of consciousness.
Fair use from:
http://www.beckersasc.com/anesthesia/stu...irium.html
The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The material available is intended to advance the understanding of Sleep Apnea treatment and to advance the educational level of Sleep Apnea patients with regard to their health. Sometimes included is the full text of articles and documents rather than a simple link because outside links frequently "go bad" or change over time. This constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this post is distributed without fee or payment of any kind for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this post for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
