Incidence of and preoperative predictors for delirium after cardiac surgery

Incidence of and preoperative predictors for postoperative delirium were st udied in 296 patients (age 26-83 years, mean age 63 years) undergoing elect ive cardiac surgery. Delirium occurred in 40 (13.5%) patients. Predictors i ncluded old age, low level of albumin, poor physical condition, use of nife dipine, and a high ratio of the amino acids phenylalanine to the sum of iso leucine, leucine, valine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. These findings suggest that preoperative physical condition and amino acid disturbances may be rel ated to delirium after cardiac surgery in the elderly. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Inc.