Research progress of postoperative delirium in neurosurgery.
World journal of psychiatry – April 19, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Up to 30% of patients experience mental confusion after brain surgery. Recent advances reveal that postoperative delirium, a temporary state of confusion and disorientation, can be better predicted and managed through targeted interventions. Early recognition of risk factors, including age and pre-existing neurological dysfunction, combined with specialized surgical protocols, has led to improved recovery outcomes and shorter hospital stays.
Abstract
Delirium is a transient and acute syndrome of encephalopathy, characterized by disturbances in consciousness, orientation, cognition, perception, and emotional regulation, often accompanied by hallucinations, illusions, psychomotor agitation, and restlessness. Postoperative delirium (POD), a common complication particularly in elderly patients, significantly impacts recovery by prolonging mechanical ventilation, neurosurgical intensive care unit stays, and overall hospitalization durations, while severely diminishing patients' quality of life after discharge. Despite its prevalence, POD remains underrecognized in clinical practice, with significant gaps in its diagnosis and management. This review explores the definition, diagnostic criteria, underlying pathogenesis, and associated risk factors of POD in neurosurgical patients, aiming to offer valuable insights for improving clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.