Delirium and Aortic Valve Surgery Outcome

Delirium is an acute confusional state that is common in elderly hospitalized patients.

I think of it light a sign of acute brain failure requiring aggressive attentional for detection and treatment of any reversible underlying causes.

Delirium in elderly hospitalized patients is a marker for poor outcome in a variety of medical and surgical subjects.

A recent study published by a Norwegian team found effects on outcome for delirium following surgical aortic valve replacement. The key findings from the study included:

• An lower rate of delirium for subjects receiving catheter valve replacement than surgical replacement
• Lower physical outcome scores at 6 months for those experiencing post-op delirium
• Longer term outcomes between those with delirium and those without delirium were not different

The study supports monitoring for delirium during the period after aortic valve surgery. Delirium may indicate a need for more intensive rehabilitation in the short-term recovery period.

The free full text manuscript can be accessed here.

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Eide LS, Ranhoff AH, Fridlund B, Haaverstad R, Hufthammer KO, Kuiper KK, Nordrehaug JE, Norekvål TM, & Delirium in Octogenarians Undergoing Cardiac Surgery or Intervention-CARDELIR Investigators (2016). Delirium as a Predictor of Physical and Cognitive Function in Individuals Aged 80 and Older After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society PMID: 27106745