delerium Flashcards
What is delirium
Acute change in mental state in response to stressors
What are the features of delerium
inattention
Disturbed consciousness
Change in cognition such as memory
Comes on suddenly over hours and days
Who is most at risk of delirium
The extremes of age such as children or old people
What can cause delirium
Anything that can cause physiological stress to the body such as infection, dehydration, pain, drugs and so on
What is used to diagnose delirium
4AT diagnostic checklist for delirium
What is the non-pharmological treatment for delirium
re-orientate the patient
Get them up and moving to reduce risk of falls
Correct their sensory impairment
Normalise their sleep schedule
Avoid urinary catheterisation
aim to discharge as soon as possible because the hospital setting will just add to the delirium
What drugs should be stopped during delirium
Anti-cholergenics
Opiates
Sedatives
