Clinical pearl and Conclusion TOPIC

Clinical Pearl

• Not every patient with confusion following a stroke has delirium.
• Remember that delirium is characterized by a reduced level of consciousness of acute onset and a fluctuating course.
• Stroke patients with confusion who do not have reduced consciousness should not be labeled as having delirium.
• Evaluate the patient clinically to identify a cause for the confusion, particularly an extension or hemorrhagic transformation the infarct.
• An older patient with cognitive impairment may have confusion as part of BPSD

Conclusion

• Delirium is an under-recognized but common and important complication of stroke.
• Recent research suggests that 25% of stroke patients develop delirium.
• Advanced age, pre-existing cognitive impairment, cortical stroke and increased stroke severity are among the factors that increase the risk of delirium in stroke.
• Recognized risk factors and triggers of delirium mean that detection and possible prevention of delirium is an achievable goal.
• Delirium has a negative impact on morbidity, including long-term cognitive outcome, and mortality.
• The effect of delirium on post-stroke allied health participation has not been researched.