Postoperative Delirium in Open Cardiac Surgery Patients

Delirium, a syndrome characterised by disturbances in consciousness and attention, is a serious postoperative complication. The incidence of postoperative delirium in open cardiac surgery patients is high. Delirium is associated with prolongation of the hospital stay, deterioration of the prognosis of the patients, increased morbidity, and mortality. This article reviews the pathophysiology, specific risk factors, and the types of delirium in cardiac surgery patients. Knowing the typical risk factors for cardiac patients, we can change the intraoperative behaviour and the postoperative care for the patients who are in the risk group for development of postoperative delirium.