[The abbreviated mental test in a German version for detection of postoperative delirium].
OBJECTIVE
Delirium is the most common acute organic psychosis postoperatively, and occurs more frequently in the elderly than anticipated. The abbreviated mental test (AMT) is a widely used cognitive test in Great Britain. The present study assessed the AMT in a German version for diagnosis of postoperative delirium.


METHODS
40 patients (older than 65 years), scheduled for total knee or hip replacement, were tested repeatedly for delirium according to the ICD-10. These patients were investigated with the AMT simultaneously by a second investigator.


RESULTS
Delirium was present in four orthopaedic patients (10 %) and was diagnosed correctly in these patients by the AMT. All but one patient without delirium showed no deterioriation in AMT score.


CONCLUSIONS
As in Great Britain, the AMT in its German version is useful in diagnosing delirium. We recommend the use of the AMT preoperatively in elderly patients at risk for delirium.
Linstedt
U
U
Klinik für Anästhesiologie, Intensiv- und Schmerztherapie, BG Kliniken Bergmannsheil,Ruhr-Universität Bochum. linstedt@anaesthesia.de
Berkau
A
A
Meyer
O
O
Kropp
P
P
Zenz
M
M
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D015982:Bias; D003071:Cognition; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006113:United Kingdom