Assessment Of Delirium In Critically Ill Patients: Utilizing The Confusion Assessment Method For The Intensive Care Unit (Cam-Icu)

Abstract

Delirium is a widespread neurological confusion detected in intensive care units (ICU). Patients in ICU are at very high risk for the development of delirium due to numerous elements. Routine examining of all patients in the ICU for the presence of delirium is extremely important to its successful management. Nurses are at the forefront to identify, control, and even prevent ICU delirium. The main aim of the study was to assess the delirium in ICU patients. The study involved 52 patients were recruited from 80 consecutive admissions to the General ICU, Mansoura International Hospital during a period of 6 months (February to July 2017). Patient assessment sheet was used for data collection including Demographic characteristic and health relevant data, The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), for delirium recognition in acute care setting, the confusion estimation method can be utilized as it is a legitimized tool with excessive level of sensitivity and specificity. The results of the study revealed that the delirium detected in largest percentage (65.3%) of patients, and there were numerous threat factors for delirium were recognized together with, long duration of ICU stay, respiratory diseases, heart diseases, renal diseases, infection, and hypertension. The findings of the study highlighted the need for more interest ought to bepaid to the implementation of a tested delirium screening instrument which includes the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU ( CAM-ICU ) and should be a part of habitual every day vital care.