Delerium Flashcards
(7 cards)
8 signs of delirium using the the letters of DELIRIUM…
Disordered thinking, emotions strong (euphoria, depressed, aggressive), language impaired, illusions/delusions/hallucinations, reversal of sleep-wake cycle, inattention, unaware, memory deficits
Causes include?
Pneumonia, UTI, IV line infection, encephalitis, meningitis, opiates, sedatives, anti convulsants, liver failure, stroke, MI, head injury, hypoxia, thiamine or b12 deficiency, post octal phase
Differentials?
Anxiety and schizophrenia (however delirium is far more common)
What tests would you do?
FBC, U+E, LFT, BMs, ABG, urine dip stick, CXR, blood cultures, ECG
Management?
Identify cause, reassure the patient, give them any sensory aids they normally have, keep staff the same, minimise any causative drugs, reassess 1-2 months later
If it persists after disease has finished is it delirium?
It can be, especially in elderly symptoms of delirium may persist for several weeks after
What is delirium?
Acute reversible global impairment of cognition/awareness/consciousness and behaviour (confusional state)