Examining DELIRIUM in Postoperative Cardiac Surgery Patient in Canada: Providing a National "Snapshot" of an Increasingly Devastating Complication

Delirium is an acute confusional state characterized by fluctuating mental status, inattention, and either disorganized thinking or altered level of consciousness. It has long been recognized as a complication of cardiac surgery, a condition more likely to be experienced among elderly patients and those with greater comorbid disease burden. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the negative effect of delirium on post-operative outcomes, including long-term survival, freedom from hospital readmission and reduced cognitive and functional recovery. Despite this, little is still known about the true incidence of delirium following cardiac surgery, with published rates of delirium post-cardiac surgery ranging widely from 3% - 78%.

From September 1, 2014 to November 30, 2014, ALL patients undergoing cardiac surgery at each of the participating centers will be screened for post-operative delirium. Patients will NOT be excluded on the basis of urgency or procedure type. Delirium screening will be conducted for either up to 7 days following their date of surgery or up until their date of initial discharge from the intensive care unit, whichever comes first. Each center will be allowed to employ the delirium-screening tool currently in use at their institution provided that the tool is either the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) or Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). It is intended that either ICDSC or CAM-ICU, paired with a Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) or the Riker Sedation and Agitation Scale (SAS) be administered once per shift (i.e. with first assessment in the morning and a second assessment with the beginning of the evening shift). In addition, data regarding baseline demographic and clinical characteristics will be collected as well as data regarding the procedure performed (see Case Report Form (CRF). Patients will be considered as having had post-operative delirium if the results of at least one of the screening tests administered yielded a positive finding of delirium. In addition to reporting an overall rate of delirium, unadjusted and adjusted incidence rates of delirium will be reported by institution and for the entire cohort. Risk-adjustment will be performed using multivariate regression modeling techniques.

This study will be the first to report on incidence rates of delirium following cardiac surgery across multiple centers employing standardized screening methodologies. The results of this study will provide valuable insight into the true burden of delirium among patients having undergone a cardiac surgical procedure in the current era. This is the first step in creating a multifaceted delirium prevention/treatment clinical pathway for the cardiac surgery patient.