Delirium - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

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• hyperactive delirium because patients will often cause a disturbance in their environment.

• alteration of attention, consciousness, and cognition, with a reduced ability to focus, sustain or shift attention.

• ) Hyperactive Delirium: Patients present with increased agitation and sympathetic activity. They can present with hallucinations, delusions, and occasionally combative or uncooperative behavio

• elirium is a potential indicator of a life-threatening illness, and every episode of delirium should be appropriately evaluated. T

• elirium is a potential indicator of a life-threatening illness, and every episode of delirium should be appropriately evaluated. The evaluation involves taking a thorough history, a complete physical exam, laboratory tests, and possible imaging. The test selections should be based on information obtained from the history and physical examination, keeping in mind that delirium is often multifactorial in etiology and can be influenced by a number of predisposing factors, precipitating factors, or bot

• lirium is defined by the DS

• Disturbance in attention and awareness develops acutely and tends to fluctuate in severity. At least one additional disturbance in cognition Disturbances are not better explained by preexisting dementia. Disturbances do not occur in the context of a severely reduced level of arousal or coma. Evidence of an underlying organic cause or caus

• s in the sleep-wake cycle, perceptual disturbances, delusions, inappropriate or unsafe behavior, and emotional labil

• One of the tools with the most widespread use is the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

• When evaluating a patient with delirium, it is important to speak with caregivers or other people who know the patient well.

• head-to-toe physical examination should be performed

• but not limited to a cardiac, pulmonary, neurological, mental status, abdominal, musculoskeletal, and skin exam

• ital signs should be evaluated. It is advised to take a targeted approach in the assessment, letting the physical exam findings and medical history inform the type of evaluation performed.

• The diagnosis of delirium is cli

• n non-pharmacologi

• reventing delirium from occurring is the most efficacious intervention.

• entifying patients at risk for delirium and taking special precautions to prevent delirium is crucial.

• Modifiable factors include medications, infections, environmental factors, and reduced sensory inpu

• on-modifiable risk factors include a history of an underlying neurodegenerative disorder such as dementia and increasing ag

• lls and combative behavior leading to injuries and fractur