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Postoperative confusion in the elderly
Author(s) -
Whitaker J. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930040604
Subject(s) - confusion , medicine , scope (computer science) , etiology , intensive care medicine , elective surgery , psychiatry , surgery , general surgery , psychology , computer science , psychoanalysis , programming language
With advancing age, postoperative confusion is an increasingly important problem. Its aetiology is complex and multifactorial and includes surgical factors, anaesthetic factors, preexisting medical, psychiatric or psychological problems and postoperative complications. It often prolongs hospital stay and although mental function recovers in the majority of cases, it may be followed by permanent mental impairment. Postoperative confusion may interfere with the management of the original surgical problem and it occurs in a setting where interest and expertise in its management are low. There is scope for improved recognition, treatment and prevention of postoperative confusion. More work needs to be done to evaluate the effect of surgery and anaesthesia on mental function, especially in the very elderly.