delirium

March 7, 2023

Treating delirium detected in the ED

Higher intensity physical or occupational therapy may be a useful intervention to shorten delirium duration in older hospitalized adults, Vanderbilt researchers recently reported.

By Leigh MacMillan
January 23, 2023

Machine learning predicts delirium

Using machine learning based on electronic health records of ICU patients predicted new-onset delirium with 82% sensitivity, Vanderbilt researchers found.

By Paul Govern
Interventions such as daily spontaneous waking trials can help patients avoid injuries associated with intensive care.
September 30, 2021

AI predicts next-day delirium or coma in ICU patients

A team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center used machine learning to predict the likelihood of next-day brain function status changes in critical care patients.

By Paul Govern
July 8, 2021

Delirium and mortality reexamined

A multicenter study of ICU patients found that in the hospital, delirium was associated with a nearly three-fold increase in risk of death the following day, but after discharge there was no association between delirium and mortality.

By Paul Govern
June 21, 2021

Dexmedetomidine and delirium

The sedative dexmedetomidine, when administered during or after heart surgery, is associated with postoperative delirium and adverse outcomes.

By Paul Govern
The study team includes, from left, Douglas Heimburger, MD, MS, Kondwelani Mateyo, MBChB, MMed, Justin Banerdt, MD, MPH, and E. Wesley Ely, MD.
April 22, 2021

Vanderbilt, Zambia researchers identify predictive factors of delirium in Sub-Saharan Africa

Severity of illness, history of stroke, and being divorced or widowed were independently predictive of delirium in hospitalized patients in Zambia, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.

By Holly Fletcher
February 11, 2021

Vanderbilt, Zambia researchers find delirium in hospitalized patients linked to mortality, disability in Sub-Saharan Africa

Delirium, a form of acute brain dysfunction, is widespread in critically ill patients in lower resourced hospitals, and the duration of delirium predicted both mortality and disability at six months after discharge, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
By Holly Fletcher
February 2, 2021

Study finds recommended ICU sedatives equally safe, effective

Sedative medications used in intensive care are associated with increased delirium, which is in turn connected with higher medical costs and greater risk of death and ICU-related dementia.
By Paul Govern
January 8, 2021

Large study finds higher burden of acute brain dysfunction for COVID-19 ICU patients

COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the early months of the pandemic were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma than is typically found in patients with acute respiratory failure. Choice of sedative medications and curbs on family visitation played a role in increasing acute brain dysfunction for these patients.
By Paul Govern
May 27, 2020

Study to test cognitive rehab therapy for ICU survivors

Vanderbilt University Medical Center will study adult survivors of medical and surgical intensive care at high risk for long-term cognitive impairment to see if computerized cognitive rehabilitation (CCR) is effective in improving cognition in ICU survivors who often have trouble doing complex tasks, maintaining their finances and staying employed.
By Nancy Humphrey
April 20, 2020

Damage, disruption, delirium

New findings suggest that treatments that decrease oxidative damage might help with postoperative delirium that occurs in up to 30% of cardiac surgery patients.
By Paul Govern
January 8, 2020

New software aims to prevent intensive care unit delirium

Intensive care unit delirium, a fertile area of clinical research and patient care innovation associated with VUMC, is beginning to reshape how commercial electronic health record systems are engineered with regard to intensive care.
By Paul Govern
March 7, 2019

Mobility protocol yields positive results in pediatric ICU

For years Kristina Betters, MD, assistant professor of Pediatric Critical Care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, has been aware of the value of getting patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) moving during their critical illnesses to prevent muscle breakdown, weakness and delirium.
By Jessica Pasley