PosterPDF Available

Investigation of Postoperative Delirium in the Setting of Ambulatory Orthopedic Surgery in a US Veteran Population

Authors:
  • Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veteans' Hospital

Abstract

Background: Postoperative delirium is a common complication after surgery in the elderly, and has been well studied in patients who are hospitalized after an operation. While an increasing number of patients are undergoing ambulatory orthopedic surgery, little is known about the incidence of delirium in patients who do not require an overnight hospitalization. The aims of the study are to quantify the risk factors of our patients undergoing ambulatory shoulder arthroscopy through retrospective chart review, design preoperative screening methods to inform surgical planning, and provide family education to maximize awareness and minimize negative outcomes of postoperative delirium. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 100 patients who underwent ambulatory shoulder arthroscopy at The Minneapolis VAMC in 2019. Known patient specific risk factors were considered, including demographics, surgical data, medical comorbidities, neuropsychiatric conditions, and medications. Data was collected in Microsoft Excel. Results: Patients undergoing ambulatory shoulder surgery at The Minneapolis VAMC had an average age of 56 years (+/-14.5, range: 28-78), 90% were male, and the average Charlson Co-morbidity index was 1.5 points (+/-1.5, range: 0-6). The most common risk factors present included depression (36%), antidepressants (35%), Sleep deprivation/disturbance (28%), antihistamine use (17%), and hearing impairment (13%). 73% of patients had 1 or more risk factors for postoperative delirium, 51% had 2 or more, and 38% had 3 or more. Conclusions: A majority of patients at The Minneapolis VAMC undergoing ambulatory shoulder surgery had 2 or more risk factors for postoperative delirium. Our findings inspired the creation of novel educational materials that are provided to the patient’s caretakers to help maximize awareness for postoperative delirium. Further prospective study using a postoperative screening tool (e.g. FAM-CAM) is needed to correlate the presence of these risk factors with incidence of postoperative delirium. Analysis of the type of anesthesia and other perioperative variables is necessary. This data, in conjunction with preoperative screening will be used to help inform surgical planning to minimize incidence and negative outcomes of postoperative delirium.
TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008
www.PosterPresentations.com
David Supinski BA 1, Kelsey L. Wise MD 1, 2, Shanon Harper DNP 2, V.F. Sechriest MD 1, 2,
1 Minneapolis VA Department of Orthopeadic Surgery1, University of Minnesota Department of Orthopeadic Surgery2
Background
Postoperative delirium is a common complication
in the elderly.1
Risk factors include age, cognitive impairment,
psychotropic medications, and sensory
impairment, all of which are common in the
veteran population.1-3
Little is known about the incidence of delirium after
patients undergo ambulatory surgery.
Investigate prevalence of risk factors for
postoperative delirium in patients undergoing
ambulatory orthopedic surgery in a VA setting.
Establish protocols for screening, education, and
prevention of postoperative delirium for patients
undergoing ambulatory orthopedic surgery.
Acknowledgements
Methods
Summary
Investigation of Postoperative Delirium in the Setting of
Ambulatory Surgery in a US Veteran Population
References
Brittney Betcher and Emily Grimshaw for their help with enrolling patients and
providing education materials prior to surgery.
73% of patients had at least 1 risk factor, 51%
have 2 or more, 38% have 3 or more.
The most common risk factors were depression,
antidepressants, sleep deprivation/disturbance,
antihistamines, and hearing impairment.
Preoperative screening may identify at risk
patients, as well as help inform surgical planning
(choice of anesthesia, overnight stay, etc.) while
family counseling about delirium helps to
maximize awareness and minimize negative
outcomes of postoperative delirium.
Novel education materials were created to
educate the patient’s family members, the most
likely people to recognize postoperative delirium.
1. Schenning KJ, Deiner SG. Postoperative Delirium in the Geriatric Patient. Anesthesiol Clin. 2015
Sep;33(3):505-16. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 Jul 7. PMID: 26315635; PMCID:
PMC4555984.
2. Olenick M, Flowers M, Diaz VJ. US veterans and their unique issues: enhancing health care professional
awareness. Adv Med Educ Pract. 2015 Dec 1;6:635-9. doi: 10.2147/AMEP.S89479. PMID: 26664252;
PMCID: PMC4671760.
3. Eibner et al. Current and Projected Characteristics and Unique Health Care Needs of the Patient
Population Served by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rand Health Q. 2016 May 9;5(4):13. PMID:
28083423; PMCID: PMC5158228.
Results
Next steps
We better understand the amount of risk our patients
possess. More study is needed to correlate these
risk factors with incidence of postoperative delirium,
measured with the FAM-CAM tool (Figure 2).
Design a system to organize ambulatory surgery
patients into risk categories for postoperative
delirium (Low, Medium, High) based on patient-
specific risk
factors.
Objective
Table 1: Patient Characteristics
Population
All patients undergoing ambulatory orthopedic
shoulder surgery at the Minneapolis VAMC.
Data
Collection
Patient demographics and known risk factors
for postoperative delirium.
Data
Analysis
Quantify risk, design education materials on
delirium to provide to patients and their families.
A total of 100 patients who underwent outpatient
shoulder surgery at the Minneapolis VAMC in 2019
were reviewed (Table 1).
16 risk factors for delirium were identified (Table 2).
Over half of patients had at least 2 delirium risk
factors, and over one third of patients had at least 3
risk factors (Figure 1).
Table 2. Risk Factors for Delirium
Neuropsychiatric Conditions
Cognitive dysfunction
1%
Dementia
0%
Parkinson’s Disease
0%
Depression
36%
Alcohol Abuse
10%
Sleep deprivation or disturbance
28%
History of postoperative delirium
0%
History of stroke
3%
Medications
Anitpsychotics
5%
Anti
-cholinergics
0%
Benzodiazepines
8%
Antihistamines
17%
Neuroleptics
6%
Antidepressants
35%
Immobilization
0%
Visual Impairment
0%
Hearing Impairment
13%
Current Hip Fracture
0%
Medical Comorbidities
Heart Failure
1%
Kidney Failure
2%
Anemia
9%
Hypoalbuminemia
0%
Hypernatremia
0%
Hyponatremia
6%
Cardiovascular Disease
9%
27
22
13
20
12
6
0 1 2 3 4 ≥5
Delirium Risk Factors
Figure 1
Figure 1. Number of delirium risk factors
Figure 2.The
Family
Confusion
Assessment
Method (FAM-
CAM) allows
providers to
identify patients
at risk for
delirium through
a short
questionnaire
with the patients’
caregiver.
Image 1
Delirium education materials were designed for
patient’s families (Image 1).
Figure 2
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Emily Grimshaw for their help with enrolling patients and providing education materials prior to surgery
  • Brittney Betcher
Brittney Betcher and Emily Grimshaw for their help with enrolling patients and providing education materials prior to surgery.