Chap. 10 - Delirium Flashcards
Delirium - a syndrome or a disease?
Syndrome
The hallmark of delirium is a disturbance of _____
Consciousness
Delirium prevalence is __% of hospitalized clients over 50, __% of elderly clients in SNFs, and __% of terminal clients nearing death
30% of hospitalized clients 50 and over
60% of elderly SNF residents
80% of terminal end-stage clients
Risk of delirium is _____ proportional to acuity of physical illness
Directly proportional
The more ill the client, the bigger the risk
Delirium tends to develop over the course of _____ or _____
Hours or days
Delirious clients often sleep during the ______ and are awake during the ______
Sleep days, awake nights
Quick recognition (usually) leads to quick _____
Resolution
Most symptoms will resolve in __ to __ months
3 to 6 months
Asterixis
A flapping motion of the wrists
The delirious client will have rigid or flaccid muscle tone?
More rigid than flaccid
Dysarthria
Impaired ability to articulate words
Dysnomia
Impaired ability to name objects
Dysgraphia
Impaired ability to write
More common in the delirious patient - illusions or hallucinations?
Illusions (false perceptions of an actual stimulus)
Clinical management - what are you trying to address, #1?
The underlying cause
Two basic needs to be aware of in the delirious client
Hydration
Nutrition
It is important to _____ the client to some _____ stimuli like clocks and family pictures
Orient the client to familiar stimuli
Should you manage delirium-associated symptoms of agitation and psychosis with anxiolytics and antipsychotics?
You should, yes
The high morbidity associated with delirium is generally as a result of _____
Injury
Two main causes of delirium in children
Fever
Anticholinergic medications
