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

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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
Official Date:	April 2010
Volume:	Vol.103
Number:	No.4
Number of Pages:	9
Page Range:	pp. 243-251
Identification Number:	10.1093/qjmed/hcp194
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Intensive Care Foundation, Research and Development Office Northern Ireland (RMS), Department of Health National Institute of Health, Alzheimer's Society (UK), Pfizer, Lilly, Hospira, GSK, Aspect, Healthways
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/6018

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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