Delirium

High-Yield Tips

Always check Therapeutic Guidelines or your local guidelines prior to actually dosing a patient (as this information may be out of date by the time you read it)
Delirium is an acute, fluctuating change in the level of consciousness, attention and cognition that develops over hours to days and is reversible
Think about the 5 Ps as common causes of delirium
Correction of the underlying cause and non-pharmacological techniques are the mainstay of treatment
Pharmacological intervention is rarely needed
- Avoid benzodiazepines, unless cause is alcohol or benzo withdrawal or seizures
Restraint should only be used as an absolute last resort

Definition

Therapeutic Guidelines defines delirium as:

an acute deterioration of mental state characterised by fluctuating symptoms of impaired attention, cognition and consciousness, typically developing over hours to days.

Classification

There are 3 types of delirium:

Hyperactive: characterised by a patient with agitation, restlessness, hallucinations or delusions
Hypoactive: characterised by a patient who is quiet and withdrawn
- This is the most common form of delirium but often missed
Mixed: characterised by a patient who fluctuates between hyperactive and hypoactive states

Epidemiology

Predisposing risk factors include:

Age 65 years or older (45 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)
Cognitive impairment or dementia
A previous episode of delirium
Excessive alcohol consumption
Auditory or visual impairments
Multiple comorbidities (esp. if severe)
Depression
Polypharmacy

Aetiology

Easy mnemonic to remember basic causes, 5 Ps:

Pain (is the patient in pain?)
Pee (does the patient have a UTI or urinary retention?)
Poo (is the patient constipated?)
Pus (does the patient have an infection?)
Pills (is the patient on any medications that may be contributing?)

In-depth list of causes can be remembered using the mnemonic DELIRIUM BAD:

Drugs (intoxication, withdrawal or adverse effect)
- Recreational: alcohol, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, opioids, cannabis
- Medications: benzodiazepines, opioids, anticholinergics (e.g. benzatropine, oxybutynin, sedating antihistamines, hyoscine, atropine, TCAs, prochlorperazine), corticosteroids, NSAIDs, cardiac medications (e.g. digoxin, β-blockers, methyldopa)
Electrolytes (hyponatraemia/hypernatraemia, hypercalcaemia/hypocalcaemia) & Encephalopathy (uraemic, hepatic, Wernicke's, hypertensive)
Low O2 (hypoxia) or Liver failure
Infection
- Sepsis, UTI, pneumonia, cellulitis, meningitis/encephalitis
Renal failure
Impacted faeces (constipation) or Ischaemia (cardiac, cerebral)
Unfamiliar environment
Metabolic disturbances
- Hypoglycaemia, hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypercortisolaemia/hypocortisolaemia, altered pH
Brain
- SOL (bleed [e.g. subdural post-fall], metastases, primary tumour, abscess), seizure (or post-ictal)
Anaemia
Discomfort (pain) & Deficiencies (B12, folate, B1, Vit D)

Clinical Features

Obtaining a direct history from the patient may be difficult at the time they are delirious. Collateral history & perusing the notes and past discharge summaries can often be useful instead.

History

The following aspects of history would be important to clarify.

Medication use (including recent changes)
Hydration status
Falls
Infectious symptoms
Bladder and bowel function
Premorbid cognitive and functional status
Alcohol (and recreational drug) history
Medical history and comorbidities
Social history
Diet and fluid intake
Sensory impairments (e.g. glasses, hearing aids)

Examination

The following examinations would be important to perform.

General inspection
Vitals
Cardiovascular exam
Respiratory exam
Abdominal exam
Neurological exam

Note: the ability to examine the patient is dependent on how aggressive/agitated they are. Do your best.

Investigations

The following investigations would be important to consider, but not all need to be performed in every case.

Bedside
- Assessment of cognitive function
  - 4AT test
  - Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
  - MMSE (where time permits)
- Urine dipstick (+ cultures)
- Urine drug screen
- BSL
- ECG
- Blood gas
- Bladder USS
- Mobile CXR
Bloods
- FBC
- UEC
- LFT
- CMP
- Coags
- Troponin
- Blood cultures
- TSH
- PTH
- B12, folate, B1 (thiamine), Vit D
- Serum drug levels (for certain medications e.g. if patient was on digoxin, check its level)
Imaging
- CT Brain
Other
- Lumbar puncture
- Stool MCS + C diff. toxin
- Wound swab

Risks associated with delirium

↑ likelihood of the following:

Longer hospital stay
Admission to residential aged-care facility
Subsequent dementia diagnosis
Fall
Death

Note: tachypnoea, delirium and oliguria are important signs of end-organ dysfunction.

Management

Goals of Treatment

Identify and correct underlying cause of delirium
Control acute symptoms of confusion (non-pharmacological > pharmacological)
Provide a safe environment for the patient

Non-pharmacological

Transfer patient to a quiet area
- Helps minimise stimuli and disturbance of other patients
- Allows for closer supervision by nursing staff
Ensure appropriate safety measures are in place
- Bedrails should be placed up or mattress should be placed on floor
If patient has hearing aids or glasses, ensure they are fitted
If family available, ask them to sit with patient
Ensure lighting of room is appropriate to the time of day
Ensure clock, calendar and other familiar objects (e.g. photos, cards) are available
- More useful in long-term prevention than in an acute episode
Ensure patient does not have a full bladder or any urinary/faecal incontinence as this can ↑ distress and confusion

Pharmacological

💡

Drugs are not required for most patients. Do not prescribe medications that you don't feel comfortable doing because you are being pressured by other staff members.

Therapeutic Guidelines states:

No drug is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to treat delirium. Although antipsychotics are commonly used to manage delirium, high-quality evidence demonstrating effectiveness is unavailable. Systematic reviews of low-quality data suggest that antipsychotics do not reduce mortality, length of hospital stay, or delirium severity or duration, and do not improve cognitive function. Additionally, antipsychotics have significant adverse effects, including aggravation of delirium.

However, it may be reasonable to use an antipsychotic in combination with non-pharmacological techniques if an adult with delirium is significantly distressed or considered a threat to themselves or others.

Therapeutic Guidelines states:

Avoid using benzodiazepines for delirium, except when delirium is related to alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, or seizures.

A single dose of an oral antipsychotic is usually adequate.

For patients without Parkinson disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, any of the following can be used first-line:

Haloperidol 0.5 mg PO, as a single dose
- Note: 1 mg may be required for younger patients
Olanzapine 1.25 to 2.5 mg PO, as a single dose
- Note: 5 mg may be required for younger patients
Risperidone 0.5 mg PO, as a single dose
- Note: 1 mg may be required for younger patients

Of the above, risperidone has the shortest onset of action.

For patients with either Parkinson disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, use:

Quetiapine 25 mg PO, as a single dose

If oral administration is not possible, in patients who do not have Parkinson disease or dementia with Lewy bodies, use either of the following:

Haloperidol 0.5 mg IM, as a single dose
- Note: 1 mg may be required for younger patients
Olanzapine 2.5 mg IM, as a single dose
- Note: 5 mg may be required for younger patients

💡

Injection can worsen distress, so only use if oral is absolutely not possible.

FAQs

If a patient is in pain that is refractory to simple analgesia, can I use opioids?
If simple analgesia and non-pharmacological techniques have not worked, it is probably reasonable to use an opioid, as pain can cause or exacerbate delirium. Discussion with a pain specialist may be appropriate.