Investigation of Factors Contributing to the Occurrence of Delirium in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery under General Anesthesia

Abstract

［ Aim］ Factors associated with the development of delirium were studied in patients over 65 years of age who underwent abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and were admitted to the HCU postoperatively.

［ Methods］ 91 patients who underwent abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and entered the HCU postoperatively were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, one with delirium and one without delirium, and group comparisons were made for each factor using the χ2 independence test. Logistic regression analysis was also performed with each factor as an explanatory variable and the presence of arousal on awakening as the objective variable.

［ Results］ Of the 91 patients, 9 patients developed delirium , with an incidence rate of 9.8% . χ2 independence test results showed that delirium occurred more frequently in patients taking high-risk medications（ p=0.046） and in patients who became hypotensive（ p=0.042）． Multivariate analysis identified two variables as factors associated with postoperative delirium: taking high‑risk medications（ OR=2.87） and hypotension （ OR=6.08）．

［ Conclusion］ We investigated factors associated with postoperative delirium in patients who underwent abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and entered the HCU postoperatively. It is important to collaborate with other professions to identify risk factors and to study their countermeasures.

［ Key words］ delirium, high risk medicine, blood pressure reductions, abdominal surgery