October 1, 1964American Journal of Psychiatry180 citations
View Full PaperPost-Cardiotomy Delirum
Key Result
Post-cardiotomy delirium occurred in 57% of 139 open heart surgery survivors and was closely related to pre-operative illness severity and surgical stress.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=139)
Structured PICO
P
Population
139 patients who survived open heart surgery.
O
Outcome
Post-cardiotomy delirium (development, onset, and duration)
Post-cardiotomy delirium is highly prevalent (57%) and appears driven primarily by pre-operative illness severity and surgical stress rather than baseline psychiatric history.
Abstract
A delirium occurring in 57% of 139 patients who survived open heart surgery is described. The development, onset, and duration of the delirium is closely related to the seriousness of illness pre-operatively and the degree of stress during surgery and the post-operative period. It is less closely related to age and male sex, and blood type may play a minor role. The surprising finding that pre-operative psychiatric disturbances was related to operative mortality, but not to development of delirium is discussed.