title: Postoperative confusion in older adults.
abstract: The development of postoperative confusion in older patients is increasingly being recognized as clinically significant because it is becoming more common as the population ages. Postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction differ in time course of development. Risk factors other than age include certain medications as well as anesthesia (both the type and amount used). Postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive dysfunction appear to increase a patient's risk for developing dementia. Routine preoperative screening may help to identify patients with preexisting cognitive impairment who are at greatest risk for developing postoperative delirium or postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Freddi Segal-Gidan is an assistant professor of clinical neurology, family medicine, and gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles and director of the Geriatric Neurobehavior & Alzheimer's Center and Rancho/USC California Alzheimer's Disease Center at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, Calif. The author has disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Freddi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Segal-Gidan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*