Outcome and quality of life in patients with postoperative delirium during an ICU stay following major surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Delirium is an acute disturbance of consciousness and cognition that has been shown to be associated with poor outcomes, including increased mortality. We aimed to evaluate outcome after postoperative delirium in a cohort of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted over a 10-month period in a SICU. Postoperative delirium was diagnosed in accordance with the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). The primary outcome was mortality at 6-month follow-up. Hospital mortality and becoming dependent were considered as secondary outcomes, on the basis of the evaluation of the patient's ability to undertake both personal and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) before surgery and 6 months after discharge from the SICU. For each dichotomous outcome - hospital mortality, mortality at 6-month follow-up, and becoming dependent - a separate multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, which included delirium as an independent variable. Another outcome analyzed was changes in health-related quality of life, as determined using short-form 36 (SF-36), which was administered before and 6 months after discharge from the SICU. Additionally, for each SF-36 domain, a separate multiple linear regression model was used for each SF-36 domain, with changes in the SF-36 domain as a dependent variable and delirium as an independent variable. RESULTS: Of 775 SICU-admitted adults, 562 were enrolled in the study, of which 89 (16%) experienced postoperative delirium. Delirium was an independent risk factor for mortality at the 6-month follow-up (OR = 2.562, P <0.001) and also for hospital mortality (OR = 2.673, P <0.001). Delirium was also an independent risk factor for becoming dependent for personal ADL (P-ADL) after SICU discharge (OR = 2.188, P <0.046). Moreover, patients who experienced postoperative delirium showed a greater decline in SF-36 domains after discharge, particularly in physical function, vitality, and social function, as compared to patients without postoperative delirium. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium was an independent risk factor for 6-month follow-up mortality, hospital mortality, and becoming independent in P-ADL after SICU discharge. It was also significantly associated with a worsening in the quality of life after surgery.

Delirium pós-operatório em pacientes críticos: fatores de risco e resultados / Postoperative delirium in intensive care patients: factores de riesgo y resultados / risk factors and outcome / Delirio postoperatorio en pacientes en cuidados intensivos

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O delirium pós-operatório (DPO) em pacientes cirúrgicos em terapia intensiva é um resultado independente importante e determinante. O objetivo do nosso estudo foi avaliar a incidência e os determinantes do DPO. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de coorte realizado durante um período de 10 meses em uma unidade de recuperação pós-anestesia (URPA) com cinco leitos especializados em terapia intensiva. Todos os consecutivos pacientes adultos submetidos à cirurgia de grande porte foram incluídos. Os dados demográficos, as variáveis perioperatórias, o tempo de internação (TI) e a mortalidade na URPA, no hospital e nos 6 meses de acompanhamento foram registrados. Delirium pós-operatório foi avaliado utilizando o Checklist para triagem de delirium em terapia intensiva (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist - ICDSC). Análises descritivas foram realizadas e o teste de Mann-Whitney, qui-quadrado ou teste exato de Fisher foram usados para comparações. Análise de regressão logística avaliou os fatores determinantes do DPO com o cálculo da razão de chances (RC) e seu intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC 95%). RESULTADOS: Houve admissão de 775 pacientes adultos na URPA e 95 pacientes não atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Dos 680 pacientes restantes, 128 (18,8%) desenvolveram DPO. Os determinantes independentes de DPO identificados foram a idade, ASA-PS, cirurgia de emergência e a quantidade total de plasma fresco congelado (PFC) administrada durante a cirurgia. Os pacientes com delirium tiveram taxas mais elevadas de mortalidade, estavam mais gravemente doente e permaneceram mais tempo na URPA e no hospital. DPO foi um fator de risco independente para mortalidade hospitalar. DISCUSSÃO: A incidência de delirium foi elevada nos pacientes cirúrgicos em terapia intensiva. DPO foi associado a uma pior pontuação de gravidade da doença, tempo de permanencia mais longo no hospital e na URPA e a taxas mais elevadas de mortalidade. Os fatores de risco independentes para DPO foram a idade, ASA-PS, cirurgia de emergência e quantidade de plasma administrado durante a cirurgia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative delirium (POD) in Surgical Intensive Care patients is an important independent outcome determinant. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the incidence and determinants of POD. METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted during a period of 10 months in a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with five intensive care beds. All consecutive adult patients submitted to major surgery were enrolled. Demographic data, perioperative variables, length of stay (LOS) and the mortality at PACU, hospital and at 6-months follow-up were recorded. Postoperative delirium was evaluated using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). Descriptive analyses were conducted and the Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparisons. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the determinants of POD with calculation of odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval 95% (95% CI). RESULTS: There were 775 adult PACU admissions and 95 patients had exclusion criteria. Of the remaining 680 patients, 128 (18.8%) developed POD. Independent determinants of POD identified were age, ASA-PS, emergency surgery and total amount of fresh frozen plasma administered during surgery. Patients with delirium had higher mortality rates, were more severely ill and stayed longer at the PACU and in the hospital. POD was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality DISCUSSION: There was a high incidence of delirium had a high incidence in intensive care surgical patients. POD was associated with worse severity of disease scores, longer LOS in hospital, and in PACU and higher mortality rates. The independent risk factors for POD were age, ASA-PS, emergency surgery and the amount of plasma administered during surgery.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: El delirio postoperatorio (DPO) en pacientes quirúrgicos en cuidados intensivos es un resultado independiente y un importante determinante. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue evaluar la incidencia y los determinantes del DPO. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo de cohorte realizado durante un período de 10 meses en una unidad de recuperación de postanestesia (URPA) con cinco camas especializadas en cuidados intensivos. Todos los pacientes adultos consecutivos que fueron sometidos a cirugía mayor fueron incluidos. Los datos demográficos, las variables perioperatorias, el tiempo de ingreso (TI) y la mortalidad en la URPA en el hospital y en los 6 meses de seguimiento quedaron registrados. El delirio postoperatorio se evaluó utilizando el Checklist para la selección de delirio en cuidados intensivos (Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist - ICDSC). Los análisis descriptivos fueron realizados y el test de Mann-Whitney, Xi-Cuadrado (Xi²) y el test exacto de Fisher fueron usados para las comparaciones. El análisis de regresión logística evaluó los factores determinantes del DPO con el cálculo de la razón de chances (RC) y su intervalo de confianza de 95% (IC 95%). RESULTADOS: La admisión fue de 775 pacientes adultos en la URPA y 95 pacientes no respetaron los criterios de inclusión. De los 680 pacientes restantes, 128 (18,8%) desarrollaron DPO. Los determinantes independientes de DPO identificados fueron la edad, ASA-PS, cirugía de emergencia y la cantidad total de plasma fresco congelado (PFC) administrado durante la cirugía. Los pacientes con delirio tuvieron tasas más elevadas de mortalidad, estaban más gravemente enfermos y permanecieron más tiempo en la URPA y en el hospital. El DPO fue un factor de riesgo independiente para la mortalidad hospitalaria. DISCUSIÓN: La incidencia de delirio fue elevada en los pacientes quirúrgicos en cuidados intensivos. El DPO estuvo asociado con una peor puntuación de gravedad de la enfermedad, tiempo de permanencia más largo en el hospital y en la URPA y tasas más elevadas de mortalidad. Los factores de riesgo independientes para DPO fueron la edad, ASA-PS, cirugía de emergencia y cantidad de plasma administrado durante la cirugía.

Postoperative delirium in intensive care patients: risk factors and outcome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative delirium (POD) in Surgical Intensive Care patients is an important independent outcome determinant. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the incidence and determinants of POD. METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted during a period of 10 months in a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with five intensive care beds. All consecutive adult patients submitted to major surgery were enrolled. Demographic data, perioperative variables, length of stay (LOS) and the mortality at PACU, hospital and at 6-months follow-up were recorded. Postoperative delirium was evaluated using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). Descriptive analyses were conducted and the Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparisons. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the determinants of POD with calculation of odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval 95% (95% CI). RESULTS: There were 775 adult PACU admissions and 95 patients had exclusion criteria. Of the remaining 680 patients, 128 (18.8%) developed POD. Independent determinants of POD identified were age, ASA-PS, emergency surgery and total amount of fresh frozen plasma administered during surgery. Patients with delirium had higher mortality rates, were more severely ill and stayed longer at the PACU and in the hospital. POD was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality DISCUSSION: There was a high incidence of delirium had a high incidence in intensive care surgical patients. POD was associated with worse severity of disease scores, longer LOS in hospital, and in PACU and higher mortality rates. The independent risk factors for POD were age, ASAPS, emergency surgery and the amount of plasma administered during surgery.

Apolipoprotein E e4 allele does not increase the risk of early postoperative delirium after major surgery.

BACKGROUND: A relationship between patients with a genetic predisposition to and those who develop postoperative delirium has not been yet determined. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele (APOE4) and delirium after major surgery. METHODS: Of 230 intensive care patients admitted to the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) over a period of 3 months, 173 were enrolled in the study. Patients' demographics and intra- and postoperative data were collected. Patients were followed for the development of delirium using the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, and DNA was obtained at PACU admission to determine apolipoprotein E genotype. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of patients developed delirium after surgery. Twenty-four patients had one copy of APOE4. The presence of APOE4 was not associated with an increased risk of early postoperative delirium (4% vs. 17%; P = 0.088). The presence of APOE4 was not associated with differences in any studied variables. Multivariate analysis identified age [odds ratio (OR) 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-43.0, P = 0.004 for age ≥65 years), congestive heart disease (OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.0-19.3, P = 0.002), and emergency surgery (OR 59.7, 95% CI 6.7-530.5, P < 0.001) as independent predictors for development of delirium. The Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were significantly higher in patients with delirium (P < 0.001 and 0.008, respectively). Hospital mortality rates of these patients was higher and they had a longer median PACU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Apolipoprotein e4 carrier status was not associated with an increased risk for early postoperative delirium. Age, congestive heart failure, and emergency surgery were independent risk factors for the development of delirium after major surgery.

Quality of life and mortality assessment in patients with major cardiac events in the postoperative period.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular complications in the postoperative period are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Few studies have assessed the degree of dependence in these patients and their perception of health. The objective of this study was to assess the mortality and the quality of life in patients who developed major cardiac events (MCE) in the postoperative period. METHOD: Retrospective study carried out in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), between March 2006 and March 2008. The patients were assessed regarding the occurrence of CE. Six months after the hospital discharge, the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was filled out and dependence was assessed in relation to activities of daily living (ADL). The comparisons between independent groups of patients were carried out using Student's t test. The comparison between each variable and the occurrence of CE was carried out by logistic regression and included all patients. RESULTS: Of the 1,280 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 26 (2%) developed MCE. The univariate analysis identified as independent determinants for the development of major cardiac events: ASA physical status, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart disease and score of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI). The six-month mortality after the SICU discharge was 35%. Of the 17 surviving patients, 13 completed the questionnaires. Thirty-one percent of them reported that their general health was better on the day they answered the questionnaire, when compared to 12 months before. Sixty-nine percent of the patients were dependent in instrumental ADL e 15% in personal ADL. CONCLUSIONS: The development of MCE has a significant impact on the duration of hospital stay and mortality rates. Six months after the discharge from the SICU, more than 50% of the patients were dependent in at least one instrumental ADL.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida e mortalidade em pacientes com eventos cardíacos graves no pós-operatório / Quality of life and mortality assessment in patients with major cardiac events in the postoperative period

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Complicações cardiovasculares no pós-operatório associam-se a elevadas mortalidade e morbidade. Poucos estudos avaliaram o grau de dependência desses doentes e a percepção da sua saúde. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a mortalidade e a qualidade de vida em doentes que desenvolveram eventos cardíacos graves (EC) no pós-operatório. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo numa Unidade de Tratamento Intensivo Cirúrgica (UTI-Cirúrgica), entre março de 2006 e março de 2008. Os doen tes foram avaliados quanto à ocorrência de EC. Seis meses após a alta, foi preenchido o questionário Short-Form-36 (SF-36) e avaliada a dependência nas atividades da vida diária (AVD). As comparações entre grupos independentes de doentes foram efetuadas com teste t de Student. A comparação entre cada variável e a ocorrência de EC foi efetuada por regressão logística envolvendo todos os doentes. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.280 doentes que apresentaram critérios de inclusão, 26 (2 por cento) desenvolveram EC. A análise univariada identificou como determinantes independentes para o desenvolvimento de EC: estado físico ASA, hipertensão arterial, doença cardíaca isquêmica, doença cardíaca congestiva e escore do Índice de Risco Cardíaco Revisado. A mortalidade seis meses após alta da UTI-Cirúrgica foi de 35 por cento. Dos 17 sobreviventes aos seis meses, 13 completaram os questionários. Trinta e um por cento referiram que sua saúde em geral era melhor no dia em que responderam ao questionário do que 12 meses antes. Sessenta e nove por cento dos doentes estavam dependentes nas AVD instrumentais e 15 por cento, nas AVD pessoais. CONCLUSÕES: O desenvolvimento de EC tem sério impacto no tempo de hospitalização e nas taxas de mortalidade. Seis meses após a alta da UTI-Cirúrgica, mais de metade dos doentes estavam dependentes em pelo menos uma AVD instrumental.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular complications in the postoperative period are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Few studies have assessed the degree of dependence in these patients and their perception of health. The objective of this study was to assess the mortality and the quality of life in patients who developed major cardiac events (MCE) in the postoperative period. METHOD: Retrospective study carried out in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), between March 2006 and March 2008. The patients were assessed regarding the occurrence of CE. Six months after the hospital discharge, the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was filled out and dependence was assessed in relation to activities of daily living (ADL). The comparisons between independent groups of patients were carried out using Student's t test. The comparison between each variable and the occurrence of CE was carried out by logistic regression and included all patients. RESULTS: Of the 1,280 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 26 (2 percent) developed MCE. The univariate analysis identified as independent determinants for the development of major cardiac events: ASA physical status, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart disease and score of the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI). The six-month mortality after the SICU discharge was 35 percent. Of the 17 surviving patients, 13 completed the questionnaires. Thirty-one percent of them reported that their general health was better on the day they answered the questionnaire, when compared to 12 months before. Sixty-nine percent of the patients were dependent in instrumental ADL e 15 percent in personal ADL. CONCLUSIONS: The development of MCE has a significant impact on the duration of hospital stay and mortality rates. Six months after the discharge from the SICU, more than 50 percent of the patients were dependent in at least one instrumental ADL.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Las complicaciones cardiovasculares en el postoperatorio están asociadas a los elevados niveles de mortalidad y morbilidad. Pocos estudios evaluaron el grado de dependencia de esos enfermos y la percepción de su salud. El objetivo de este trabajo fue el de evaluar la mortalidad y la calidad de vida en enfermos que desarrollaron eventos cardíacos mayores (EC) en el postoperatorio. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Quirúrgica (UCI-Quirúrgica), entre marzo de 2006 y marzo de 2008. Los enfermos fueron evaluados respecto de la existencia de EC. Seis meses después del alta, se rellenó el cuestionario ShortForm-36 (SF-36) y se evaluó la dependencia de las actividades de la vida diaria (AVD). Las comparaciones entre los grupos independientes de enfermos fueron efectuadas con el test t. La comparación entre cada variable y la incidencia de EC, fue efectuada por regresión logística involucrando a todos los enfermos. RESULTADOS: De los 1280 enfermos que presentaron criterios de inclusión, 26 (2 por ciento) desarrollaron EC. El análisis univariado identificó como determinantes independientes para el desarrollo de EC: estado físico ASA, hipertensión, enfermedad cardíaca isquémica, enfermedad cardíaca congestiva y puntuación del Índice de Riesgo Cardíaco Revisado. La mortalidad seis meses después del alta de la UCI-Quirúrgica fue de un 35 por ciento. De los 17 sobrevivientes a los seis meses, 13 completaron los cuestionarios. Treinta y un por ciento declararon que su salud era mejor en general el día que respondieron el cuestionario que 12 meses antes de rellenarlo. Sesenta y nueve por ciento de los enfermos eran dependientes en las AVD instrumentales y un 15 por ciento en las AVD personales. CONCLUSIONES: El desarrollo de EC tiene un serio impacto en el tiempo de ingreso y en las tasas de mortalidad. Seis meses después del alta de la UCI-Quirúrgica, más de la mitad de los enfermos eran dependientes...

Outcome and quality of life after aorto-bifemoral bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Aorto-bifemoral bypass (AFB) is commonly performed to treat aorto-iliac disease and a durable long-term outcome is achieved. Most studies documenting beneficial outcomes after AFB have been limited to mortality and morbidity rates, costs and length of hospital stay (LOS). Few studies have examined the dependency of patients and how their perception of their own health changes after surgery. The aim of the present study was to evaluate outcome after AFB and to study its determinants. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out in the multidisciplinary Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with five intensive care beds. Out of 1597 intensive care patients admitted to the PACU, 75 were submitted to infrarenal AFB and admitted to these intensive care unit (ICU) beds over 2 years. Preoperative characteristics and outcome were evaluated by comparing occlusive disease with aneurysmatic disease patients. Six months after discharge, the patients were contacted to complete a Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36) and to have their dependency in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) evaluated. Patient's characteristics and postoperative follow-up data were compared using Mann-Whitney U test, t test for independent groups, chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Patient preoperative characteristics were evaluated for associations with mortality using a multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 12% at six months. Multivariate analysis identified congestive heart disease and APACHE II as independent determinants for mortality. Patients submitted to AFB for occlusive disease had worse SF-36 scores in role physical and general health perception. Patients submitted to AFB had worse SF-36 scores for all domains than a comparable urban population and had similar scores to other PACU patients. Sixty-six percent and 23% of patients were dependent in at least one activity in instrumental and personal ADL, respectively, but 64% reported having better general health. CONCLUSION: This study shows that congestive heart disease and APACHE II were risk factors for mortality after AFB surgery. Survivors who have undergone AFB perceive an improved quality of life although they are more dependent in ADL tasks and have worse scores in almost all SF-36 than the population to which they belong.

Determinants of postoperative acute kidney injury.

INTRODUCTION: Development of acute kidney injury (AKI) during the perioperative period is associated with increases in morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and determinants of postoperative AKI after major noncardiac surgery in patients with previously normal renal function. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was carried out in the multidisciplinary Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with five intensive care beds. The study population consisted of 1166 patients with no previous renal insufficiency who were admitted to these intensive care unit (ICU) beds over 2 years. After admission patients were followed for the development of AKI, defined as proposed by The Acute Kidney Injury Network (increment of serum creatinine [greater than or equal to] 0.3 mg/dL or 50% from baseline within 48 hours or urine output < 0.5 mL/kg/hr for > 6 hours despite fluid resuscitation when applicable). Patient preoperative characteristics, intraoperative management and outcome were evaluated for associations with acute kidney injury using an univariate and multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: A total of 1597 patients were admitted to the PACU and of these, 1166 met the inclusion criteria. Eighty-seven patients (7.5%) met AKI criteria. Univariate analysis identified age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status, emergency surgery, high risk surgery, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart disease and Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI) score as independent preoperative determinants for AKI in the postoperative period. Multivariate analysis identified ASA physical status, RCRI score, high risk surgery and congestive heart disease as preoperative determinants for AKI in the postoperative period. Patients that developed AKI had higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, higher PACU length of stay (LOS), higher PACU mortality, higher hospital mortality and higher mortality at 6 months follow-up. AKI was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.41 to 6.93, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that age, emergency and high risk surgery, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart disease, ASA physical status and RCRI score were considered risk factors for the development of AKI, in patients needing intensive care after surgery. AKI has serious impact on PACU length of stay and mortality. AKI was an independent risk factor for hospital mortality.