Delirium in the ICU

Delirium in the ICU
from witness to criminal
Dr. Andrew Ferguson MEd FRCA FCARCSI DIBICM FCCP

“ The subject of delirium is generally looked upon by the practical physician as one of the most obscure in the chain of morbid phenomena he has to deal with; whilst the frequency of its occurrence under various conditions of the system renders the affection not a little familiar to his eye”
Gallway MB (1838). Nature and treatment of delirium. Lond Med Gazette 1: 46–49.

Overview
What is delirium ?
How is it categorised?
Why does it matter?
Why does it happen?
How do we diagnose/monitor it?
How do we prevent and treat it?
What does it mean for our patients?

What is Delirium?
An acute confusional state with
Fluctuating mental status
Disordered attention
Disorganised thinking OR altered consciousness
DSM IV definition : “a disturbance of consciousness with inattention accompanied by a change in cognition or perceptual disturbance that develops over a short period (hours to days) and fluctuates with time”
Synonyms : ICU psychosis, septic encephalopathy, ICU syndrome, acute brain failure, acute confusional state

How is Delirium Categorised? Hyperactive Hypoactive Mixed 1.6% of cases, “ ICU psychosis ”, agitation, restlessness, “picking”, emotional lability 54.1% % of cases 43.5% of cases, “ encephalopathy ”, often unrecognised, withdrawal, flat affect, apathy, lethargy, decreased responsiveness, may be misdiagnosed as depression

Why does delirium matter?
Increased reintubation risk (OR=3)
Increased ICU & hospital stay * (up to 10 days extra)
Each day in delirium increases risk of longer stay by 20%
Increased mortality in ICU & out to 6 months** (OR=3)
Each day spent in delirium increases risk of death by 10%
Increased ICU & hospital costs ***
10-24% risk of long-term cognitive impairment
Increased dementia risk
Reduced functional status at 3 & 6 months
* Ely et al, Intensive Care Med 2001; 27: 1892-1900 ** Ely et al, JAMA 2004; 291: 1753-62 *** Milbrandt et al, CCM 2004; 32: 955-62

Why does delirium happen?
Higher cortical dysfunction (on functional neuroimaging)
Pre-frontal cortex, non-dominant posterior parietal regions, anterior thalamus, basal ganglia, temporal-occipital cortex
Neurotransmitter dysfunction
Reduced acetylcholine levels – blockade or deficiency
Endogenous anticholinergic substances
Opiates/hypoxia/inflammation
Serotonin fluctuation
Dopamine excess
Glutamate excess (2 o to IFN-  , LPS, hypoxia, hypoglycaemia)
Predisposition (baseline vulnerability)
Precipitants (clinical, iatrogenic, organisational risk factors)

Why does delirium happen? Serotonin Acetylcholine Dopamine Opioids & benzo’s 2 o brain infection Decreased cerebral metabolism 1 o intracranial disease Systemic disease Hypoxia Metabolic derangement Withdrawal syndromes Toxins

Risk factors for delirium Van Rompaey Intensive and Critical Care Nursing 2008; 24: 98—107

Age Severity Benzo’s Pun & Ely, Chest 2007; 132: 624–636 Pandharipande et al, Anesthesiology 2006; 104: 21-26

DELIRIUM(S) - causes
D Drugs, dementia
E Eyes & ears (poor vision and hearing)
L Low O 2 states (CHF, COPD, ARDS, MI, PE)
I Infection
R Retention (urine and stool)
I Ictal states
U Underhydration/undernutrition
M Metabolic upset
(S) Subdural, sleep deprivation

I WATCH DEATH
I Infection
W Withdrawal (alcohol, sedatives, barbiturates etc.)
A Acute metabolic (acidosis, alkalosis, electrolytes)
T Trauma (closed head injury, haematoma etc.)
C CNS pathology (seizures, stroke, encephalitis)
H Hypoxia
D Deficiencies (thiamine, niacin, B12, folate)
E Endocrinopathies (thyroid, glucose, adrenal)
A Acute vascular (hypertensive crisis, arrhythmia)
T Toxins/drugs
H Heavy metals

Diagnosis & monitoring Level of consciousness Content of consciousness

Diagnosis & monitoring
Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC)
8 items based on data from preceeding 24 hours
Score > 4 items = positive for delirium
Sensitivity 99%, specificity 64%, inter-observer reliability 94%
Simple
Confusion Assessment Method for ICU (CAM-ICU)
4 features
Altered or fluctuating mental status compared to baseline
Inattention (Attention Screening Examination – ASE, visual or auditory recollection of letter or images)
Disorganised thinking – 4 Y/N questions + hold up 2 fingers on each hand
Altered consciousness – sedation scale e.g. RASS
Delirium = 1 AND 2 plus 3 OR 4

CAM-ICU

Treating delirium
Non-pharmacological (most studied outside ICU)
Up to 40% risk reduction achieved
Repeated reorientation of patients
Early mobilisation
Visual and hearing aids (and wax removal!)
Early catheter, line etc. removal
Minimise restraints and sedatives

Treating delirium - haloperidol
Typical antipsychotic
2-5 mg iv/po q6H (reduce in elderly)
Adverse effects – extrapyramidal, prolonged QTc, torsades (3.8%), neuroleptic malignant syndrome
More effective than lorazepam
? mortality reduction in ventilated ICU patients
Dopamine blockade + disinhibition of ACh
Anti-inflammatory effects
Girard & Ely, Handbook of Clinical Neurology 2008; 90: chapter 3

Treating delirium – atypical antipsychotics
Olanzepine, quetiapine, risperidone
Alter multiple neurotransmitters including DA, NA, serotonin, ACh, histamine
Suggestion of decreased extrapyramidal side-effects compared to haloperidol
As effective as haloperidol
Girard & Ely , Handbook of Clinical Neurology 2008; 90: chapter 3 Skrobik YK, Bergeron N, Dumont M et al . (2004). Olanzapine vs haloperidol: treating delirium in a critical care set- ting. Intensive Care Med 30: 444–449.107: 341–351. Han CS, Kim YK (2004). A double-blind trial of risperidone and haloperidol for the treatment of delirium. Psychosomatics 45: 297–301 Breitbart W, Marotta R, Platt M et al. (1996). A double- blind trial of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and lorazepam in the treatment of delirium in hospitalized AIDS patients. Am J Psychiatry 153: 231–237.

Internet Resources
www.icudelirium.org

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Delirium in the ICU

by Andrew Ferguson on Sep 03, 2008

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Delirium in the ICU — Presentation Transcript