The incidence of delirium immediately following cataract removal surgery: a prospective study in the elderly

Delirium is a syndrome affecting the central nervous system characterized b y a rapid development of disturbances in cognition and consciousness. In th e elderly delirium is frequently observed in clinical practice, especially in medical and surgical wards. Despite its severe consequences, epidemiolog ical data relating to incidence of post-operative delirium is lacking. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence of delirium immediat ely following cataract surgery in elderly community-dwelling patients. For purposes of the present study the Confusion Rating Scale (CRS) was used. Of 197 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria, ten (5.1%) had suffered fr om post-operative delirium. The two variables that significantly differenti ated between patients with or without delirium were older age (80.8 versus 74.6 years, p<0.01) and more frequent use of benzodiazepine premedication ( 7/10 versus 73/187, p<0.001). These findings call for increased awareness o f the occurrence of delirium following cataract surgery and raise the possi bility that changes in premedication and a longer observation period, parti cularly in the very old, may be beneficial.