Abstract
Objectives: Delirium is frequently observed in patients with acute aortic dissection. The purpose of this study was to examine whether delirium could be prevented when patients were given pamphlets which provided knowledge about the disease and therapy. Methods: Pamphlets were introduced in 2003. Forty-five medically treated patients with acute aortic dissection were examined between 2000 and 2005. The causative factors of delirium and the occurrence rates of delirium, ‘not following prescribed rest levels’ and ‘self-removal of catheters’ were determined through chart review. Results: Delirium occurred most frequently on the second day of admission (42.9%), and the occurrence rate decreased significantly after the use of pamphlets (from 64.0% to 25.0%, P = 0.009). The frequencies of ‘not following prescribed rest levels’ and ‘self-removal of catheters’ were also decreased. CRPmax and ‘beginning of oral fluid intake’ were significantly different between patients with pamphlet and those without pamphlet. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that only pamphlet use was independently associated with delirium onset. Conclusion: It was suggested that pamphlets were effective in preventing delirium in patients with acute aortic dissection.
