Syndrome confusionnel postopératoire

Postoperative delirium is a frequent and potentially serious complication, especially in elderly patients. It is associated with an increase in mortality, postoperative complications and declining cognitive functions leading to long-term hospital stay. It may induce and increase the postoperative duration of hospital stay and the cost of the procedure. The diagnostic is easy to perform at bedside thanks to the Confusion Assessment Method considered as a gold standard. Many risk factors have been identified. None of the pharmacological preventive treatment is effective. Non-pharmacological procedures, including educational program for health care providers and avoiding the occurrence of risk factors, may decrease the incidence of the syndrome. Therapeutic approaches focus on the mechanisms, the causative factors and the risk factors.