Delirium Flashcards
What is Delirium?
Acute confusion state
What is Delirium characterised by? (2 things)
- Disturbed consciousness
- Reduced cognitive function
What percentage of elderly patients on Medical / Surgical Wards will have Delirium at any one time?
15%
What are the 3 types of Delirium?
- Hypoactive Delirium (most common)
- Hyperactive Delirium
- Mixed Agitation
What are the CF Hypoactive Delirium? (2 things)
- Lethargy
- Reduced motor activity
What are the CF Hyperactive Delirium? (4 things)
- Agitation / Aggression
- Increased motor activity
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
What is Mixed agitation marked by?
Fluctuations throughout the day
What are the titles of the differences between Delirium n Dementia? (4 things)
- Onset
- Short-Term course
- Attention
- Delusions / Hallucinations
What is the difference in ONSET between Delirium vs Dementia?
- Delirium: Acute
- Dementia: Gradual
What is the difference in the SHORT-TERM COURSE between Delirium vs Dementia?
- Delirium: Fluctuating
- Dementia: Constant
What is the difference in ATTENTION between Delirium vs Dementia?
- Delirium: Poor
- Dementia: Good
What is the difference in DELUSIONS / HALLUCINATIONS between Delirium vs Dementia?
- Delirium: Common
- Dementia: Less Common
What are the RF for Delirium? (6 things)
- Age 65+
- Male
- Multiple co-morbs
- Underlying Dementia
- Renal impairment
- Sensory impairment (hearing / visual)
What are the causes of Delirium? (11 things)
- C - Constipation
- H – Hypoxia
- I – Infection
- M – Met Disturbance
- P – Pain
- S – Sleeplessness
- P – Prescriptions
- H – Hypothermia / Pyrexia
- O – Organ dysfunction (hepatic / renal impairment)
- N – Nutrition
- E – Environmental changes
- D – Drugs / Dehydration
CHIMPS PHONES
When do you usually get the Hypoxia that causes Delirium?
Post-op
What infections can cause Delirium? (2 things)
- UTI
- LRTI
What Met Disturbances can cause Delirium? (3 things)
- Hyponatraemia
- Hypernatremia
- Hypercalcaemia
What Drugs can cause Delirium? (5 things)
- Benzodiazepines
- Diuretics
- Opioids
- Steroids
- Drug withdrawal (e.g Alcohol)
What info is important to get from Hx / Collateral Hx? (5 things)
- Symptoms of possible Underlying Cause
- Previous episodes
- Onset + Course of confusion
- Drug Hx
- Co-morbs
What screening tools can you use to assess pt cognition? (3 things)
- Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS)
- MMSE
- ACE-III
Why is it important to do screening tools for Delirium pts?
To monitor for Improvement / Deterioration over time
What examinations can you do to give you a clue to what caused the Delirium?
- Vital signs
- Consciousness (e.g GCS / AVPU)
- Evidence of Head trauma
- Source of infection
- Asterixis (flapping hands)