The Library

A national survey of the management of delirium in UK intensive care units

Tools

Intensive Care Fdn (Including: Mac Sweeney, R., Barber, V., Page, V., Ely, E. W., Perkins, Gavin D., Young, J. D. and McAuley, Daniel F.). (2010) A national survey of the management of delirium in UK intensive care units. QJM, Vol.103 (No.4). pp. 243-251. ISSN 1460-2725

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcp194

Abstract

Background: Delirium is an acute organ dysfunction common amongst patients treated in intensive care units The associated morbidity and mortality are known to be substantial. Previous surveys have described which screening tools are used to diagnose delirium and which medications are used to treat delirium, but these data are not available for the United Kingdom

Aim: This survey aimed to describe the UK management of delirium by consultant intensivists Additionally, knowledge and attitudes towards management of delirium were sought The results will inform future research in this area.

Methods: A national postal survey of members of the UK Intensive Care Society was performed. A concise two page questionnaire survey was sent, with a second round of surveys sent to non-respondents after 6 weeks The questionnaire was in tick-box format.

Results: Six hundred and eighty-one replies were received from 1308 questionnaires sent, giving a response rate of 52% Twenty-five percent of respondents routinely screen for delirium, but of these only 55% use a screening tool validated for use in intensive care The majority (80%) of those using a validated instrument used the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit. Hyperactive delirium is treated pharmacologically by 95%; hypoactive delirium is treated pharmacologically by 25%, with haloperidol the most common agent used in both. Over 80% of respondents agreed that delirium prolongs mechanical ventilation and hospital stay and requires active treatment

Conclusions: This UK survey demonstrates screening for delirium is sporadic Pharmacological treatment is usually with haloperidol in spite of the limited evidence to support this practice Hypoactive delirium is infrequently treated pharmacologically

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

R Medicine

Divisions:

Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School

Journal or Publication Title:

QJM

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

ISSN:

1460-2725