title: The occurrence of acute postoperative confusion in patients after cardiac surgery.
abstract: This study quantified the occurrence of acute confusion in cardiac surgery patients at three German hospitals. A total of 867 patients, 22-91 years old, were examined each nursing shift postoperatively for 5 days for the presence of acute confusion using a modified version of the Glasgow Coma Scale and Confusion Rating Scale. The night shifts and the third postoperative day showed the most frequent periods of occurrence. Confusional state was noted in patients ranging from 10.5% for patients aged <70, to 40.7% for patients >80 years of age. Those found at increased risk were patients of increasing age and coexisting disease. Targeted nursing interventions for patients at increased risk of acute confusion may decrease this complication.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Klinikum Nürnberg, Heimerichstrasse 58, 90419 Nürnberg, Germany. osterbrink@klinikum-nuernberg.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osterbrink
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003221:Confusion / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors