[Acute postoperative confusion in heart surgery patients].
Unlike other countries, Germany does not have data about the incidence of acute confusion following heart surgery. However, the occurrence of acute confusion does extend the hospitalization length by up to 13 days. Thus, this phenomenon is of high relevance for the health profession. This incidence study was performed with the goal to obtain exact information on the incidence rate of acute postoperative confusion after heart surgery (bypass and valve operations) through a multi-center evaluation. The data evaluation took place in the form of a convenient sample survey in three different German clinics specialized in heart surgery. The observation period lasted from the day of surgery up to the fifth postoperative day. In the context of this prospective cohort study, suitable study participants were all patients aged 18 or older who underwent heart surgery between February 1st and April 30th, 2000. At the end, 860 patients were included in the study. A total of 152 patients showed symptoms of acute confusion, meaning a total incidence of 17.4% (confidence interval 14-20%). The occurrence of this phenomenon was not symmetrical. A wide-spread occurrence could be observed particularly at night. Patients aged 81-91 were mainly affected, with an incidence of confusion of 43.5% in this group. The results confirm the clinical importance of this issue and require interdisciplinary approaches for solution.
Osterbrink
Jürgen
J
Universität Witten/Herdecke. osterbrink@klinikum-nuernberg.de
Mayer
Herbert
H
Ewers
Andre
A
Fiedler
Christine
C
Haslbeck
Jörg
J
Wirth
Kerstin
K
Wordel
Andrea
A
Hannich
Hans-Joachim
HJ
Krian
Arno
A
Laczkovics
Axel
A
Weyand
Michael
M
McDonough
John
J
Evers
Georges C M
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D003221:Confusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies