Acute Medicine | Medicine of the elderly | Post-operative confusion

Post-operative Confusion
Session Overview
Description
This session discusses one of the most important conditions found on surgical wards, post-operative confusion or delirium. Areas covered include the principal causes and risk factors as well as how to diagnose it.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List key points to consider when assessing, investigating and treating patients with post-operative confusion

Post-operative confusion or delirium is one of the most important conditions found on surgical wards.

Delirium occurs in 44% of elderly patients after a major operation. Post-operative delirium results in increased morbidity, delayed functional recovery and increased rate of six month mortality.