The purpose of this research is to find out the best way to reduce delirium in frail, older patients undergoing planned surgery. Delirium is a state of confusion and difficulty concentrating that is temporary. Delirium may make the person anxious, angry, sleepy, not think clearly, or hallucinate. Being frail in medicine means that the body may not easily recover from a stressor, such as surgery. This study will determine if a detailed on-going evaluation by a Geriatrician, doctor who specializes in the care of older adults, after surgery is better at decreasing the risk of delirium than simply highlighting the patient's frailty in the electronic medical record.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
200
Participants will come once in person for the standard of care surgery. After the surgery, participants will receive delirium assessment questionnaires twice daily in the hospital for a duration of up to 7 days after surgery and, up to two sensory aids if required, one pair of eyeglasses as well as frequent orientation of physical and occupational therapy. On postoperative day 14, the subjects will be assessed for the same, whether at home or in-patient. The assessment completion could take up to an hour.
Participants will come once in person for the standard of care surgery. After the surgery, participants will receive assessment questionnaires regarding perioperative delirium, twice daily in the hospital for a duration of up to 7 days after surgery. On postoperative day 14, the subjects will be assessed for the same, whether at home or in-patient. The assessment completion could take up to an hour.
University of Miami
Miami, Florida, United States
RECRUITINGProportion of patients of postoperative delirium (POD) as measured by confusion assessment measure (CAM)
The CAM score ranges from 1-4. Each score means the following: 1. \- acute onset or fluctuating course, 2. \- inattention, 3. \- altered mental status 4. \- disorganized thinking. The diagnosis of delirium by the CAM is based on the presence of features 1 and 2 and either 3 or 4.
Time frame: up to 7 days
The proportion of patients who had a non-escalation of discharge level of care
The proportion of patients with non-escalation of discharge of level of care will be assessed by comparing the level of care of the location that the patient was living preoperatively to the level care to the location that the patient is discharged and will be considered present if the discharge level of care is the same or lower. Levels of care from highest to lowest are: long term acute care hospital \> skilled nursing facility \> rehabilitation center \> assisted living \> unassisted home living.
Time frame: 1 day (at the end of the intervention)
length of stay (LOS)
measured in number of days
Time frame: 1 day (at the end of the intervention)
prolonged length of stay (LOS)
measured in number of days
Time frame: 1 day (at the end of the intervention)
home delirium measured by CAM
measured by confusion assessment measure (CAM).Scores range from 1 through 4. Higher scores indicated higher confusion
Time frame: up to 18 days
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