Alvarez RV, et al. - Researchers intended to determine the incidence, associated risk factors, and characteristics of delirium in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). Among these children, delirium was common and associated with longer length of stay. As per the outcomes, there could be opportunities for prevention of delirium by targeting modifiable risk factors, such as the use of benzodiazepines.

Methods

• Researchers performed single-center prospective observational study of CICU patients ≤21 years old.
• Using the Cornell Assessment for Pediatric Delirium each 12-hour shift, all were screened for delirium.

Results

• The researchers included 99 patients.
• In this study, incidence of delirium was 57%.
• For the development of delirium the median time was 1 day (95% CI 0, 1 days).
• Children with delirium were found to be younger (geometric mean age 4 vs 46 months; P < .001), had longer periods of mechanical ventilation (mean 35.9 vs 8.8 hours; P=.002) and had longer cardiopulmonary bypass times (geometric mean 126 vs 81 minutes; P=.001).
• Delirious patients, compared to those without delirium, had longer length of CICU stay [median 3 (IQR 2, 12.5) vs 1 (IQR1, 2) days; P < .0001].
• A significant association between delirium and younger age (OR 0.35 for each additional month, 95% CI 0.19, 0.64), need for mechanical ventilation (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.7, 9.89), and receipt of benzodiazepines (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.46, 9.79) was revealed in a multivariable generalized linear mixed model.