Postoperative confusion in the elderly

✍ Scribed by J. J. Whitaker

• Book ID: 102226594
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 439 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.930040604

✦ Synopsis

With advancing age, postoperative confusion is an increasingly important problem. Its aetiology is complex and multifactorial and includes surgical factors, anaesthetic factors, preexisting medical, psychiatric or psychological problems and postoperative complications. It often prolongs hospital stay and although mental function recovers in the majority of cases, it may be followed by permanent mental impairment. Postoperative confusion may interfere with the management of the original surgical problem and it occurs in a setting where interest and expertise in its management are low. There is scope for improved recognition, treatment and prevention of postoperative confusion. More work needs to be done to evaluate the effect of surgery and anaesthesia on mental function, especially in the very e I d e r 1 y .