Delirium during Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation.

Background. We compare the incidence of delirium before and after extubation and identify the risk factors and possible predictors for the occurrence of delirium in this group of patients. Methods. Patients weaned frommechanical ventilation (MV) and extubated were included. The assessment of delirium was conducted using the confusion assessmentmethod for the ICU and completed twice per day until discharge fromthe intensive care unit. Results. Sixty-four patients were included in the study, 53.1% of whompresented with delirium. The risk factorsof deliriumwere age (P = 0.01), SOFAscore (P = 0.03), APACHEscore (P = 0.01), and a neurological cause of admission (P = 0.01). The majority of the patients began with delirium before or on the day of extubation. Hypoactive delirium was the most common form. Conclusion. Acute (traumatic or medical) neurological injuries were important risk factors in the development of delirium. During the weaning process, delirium developed predominantly before or on the same day of extubation and was generally hypoactive (more difficult to detect).Therefore, while planning early prevention strategies, attention must be focused on neurological patients who are receiving MV and possibly even on patients who are still under sedation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]