title: Managing Delirium In The Emergency Department: Tools For Targeting Underlying Etiology.
abstract: Delirium represents the complex junction between vulnerable patients, medical conditions, and environmental factors. Given the varied presentations of this disorder and the emergency department clinical environment, recognition and treatment may be challenging. Delirium can be diagnosed using validated standardized screening tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method. Management of delirium is directed towards rapidly treating the underlying medical condition while preventing and managing the behavioral symptoms with nonpharmacological (first-line) and pharmacological (second-line) interventions. In the severely agitated patient, pharmacological treatment tailored to the patient's age and comorbidities may be required as the initial treatment to facilitate evaluation and management of the underlying medical condition. Effective risk stratification and triage tools can positively impact patient and staff safety, as well as patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Assistant, Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellow, Learning Laboratory, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Gallane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014218:Triage
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines