Research progress of postoperative delirium in neurosurgery.
World journal of psychiatry April 19, 2025 Xue-Jian Wang 2 citations
Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common but underrecognized complication, especially in elderly neurosurgical patients. It is a transient syndrome of encephalopathy marked by disturbances in consciousness, orientation, cognition, perception, and emotional regulation, sometimes with hallucinations or agitation. POD prolongs mechanical ventilation, intensive care stays, and hospitalization, and severely reduces quality of life after discharge. This review examines the definition, diagnostic criteria, pathogenesis, and risk factors of POD in neurosurgical patients, aiming to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment.