Encephalopathy and Delirium

Delirium occurs commonly in critically ill patients. ICU delirium is associated with increased short-term and long-term mortality, increased ICU length of stay, and long-term cognitive deficits in these patients. There are significant health-care costs associated with ICU delirium. Delirium is often overlooked in patients when assessed by clinicians based on clinical judgment alone. The use of a validated delirium assessment tool increases delirium detection rates in patients. ICU delirium is a multifactorial process. Nonmodifiable risk factors include age, dementia, prior coma, emergency surgery or trauma, and a high severity of illness. Modifiable risk factors include benzodiazepine use and blood transfusions. There is no evidence to support the use of any pharmacologic agent for either the prevention or treatment of ICU delirium. Antipsychotics should only be used for symptom management in ICU patients with delirium, and then discontinued when no longer needed. The mainstay of delirium management should be a multi-component, non-pharmacologic strategy aimed at minimizing risk factors. One such multimodal strategy, the ABCDEF Bundle, can significantly decrease the incidence of ICU delirium. Additional research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and management of ICU delirium. This review contains 5 figures, 7 tables, and 51 references Keywords: Delirium, Encephalopathy, Intensive Care, Outcomes, ABCDEF Bundle, ICU Liberation.