title: The clinical significance of delirium in the intensive care unit.
abstract: Delirium is prevalent among intensive care unit patients. It prolongs length of stay, increases costs, and is independently associated with higher mortality rates. While its specific biological pathways are largely unknown, environmental and iatrogenic determinants have been repeatedly recognized. Removal of the known triggers and pharmacologic intervention constitute available therapies. This review focuses on the clinical significance of delirium in critically ill patients, from its prevalence to its long-term impact, the ways that we have to diagnose it, and the available therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Medicina, Specialistica, Sezione di Malattie Respiratorie, Universita' di Catania, Ospedale Policlinico G. Rodolico, Via S. Sofia 78, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crimi
authors.forename: Luca M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bigatello
keywords: ICU delirium; acute brain dysfunction; diagnosis of ICU delirium
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2004 Sep 9;351(11):1053-6
references.pmid: 15356302
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 Apr;48(4):363-9
references.pmid: 10798460
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 1998 Apr;26(4):651-9
references.pmid: 9559601
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2009 Jan;37(1):177-83
references.pmid: 19050611
references.citation: Intensive Care Med. 2004 Mar;30(3):444-9
references.pmid: 14685663
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1999 Mar 4;340(9):669-76
references.pmid: 10053175
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Apr;53(4):622-8
references.pmid: 15817008
references.citation: QJM. 2010 Apr;103(4):243-51
references.pmid: 20139102
references.citation: Anaesth Intensive Care. 2007 Oct;35(5):714-9
references.pmid: 17933157
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Jun;51(6):754-60
references.pmid: 12757560
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2001 Jul;29(7):1370-9
references.pmid: 11445689
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Mar;54(3):479-84
references.pmid: 16551316
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2009 Jan 15;360(3):225-35
references.pmid: 19144938
references.citation: J Trauma. 2011 Apr;70(4):910-5
references.pmid: 21610396
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2009 Jun;37(6):1881-5
references.pmid: 19384206
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005 Oct;53(10):1658-66
references.pmid: 16181163
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Jul;51(7):1002-6
references.pmid: 12834522
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 May;51(5):591-8
references.pmid: 12752832
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):419-27
references.pmid: 19915454
references.citation: Intensive Care Med. 2009 May;35(5):781-95
references.pmid: 19165463
references.citation: Anesthesiology. 2006 Jan;104(1):21-6
references.pmid: 16394685
references.citation: Intensive Care Med. 2001 May;27(5):859-64
references.pmid: 11430542
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2010 Jul;38(7):1513-20
references.pmid: 20473145
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 Jun;48(6):618-24
references.pmid: 10855596
references.citation: Anesth Analg. 2010 Aug;111(2):451-63
references.pmid: 20375300
references.citation: JAMA. 2004 Apr 14;291(14):1753-62
references.pmid: 15082703
references.citation: Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009 Dec 1;180(11):1092-7
references.pmid: 19745202
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2009 Oct;37(10 Suppl):S331-6
references.pmid: 20046118
references.citation: J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001 May;49(5):516-22
references.pmid: 11380742
references.citation: JAMA. 2009 Feb 4;301(5):489-99
references.pmid: 19188334
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 16;354(11):1157-65
references.pmid: 16540616
references.citation: Ann Pharmacother. 2011 Oct;45(10):1217-29
references.pmid: 21934036
references.citation: Intensive Care Med. 2007 Jun;33(6):1007-13
references.pmid: 17404704
references.citation: JAMA. 2007 Dec 12;298(22):2644-53
references.pmid: 18073360
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2010 Feb;38(2):428-37
references.pmid: 20095068
references.citation: Crit Care Med. 2002 Jan;30(1):119-41
references.pmid: 11902253