Fonctions cognitives et vigilance des patients hospitalisés dans une unité de soins palliatifs : enquête un jour donné

Most of the patients were awaked (Rudkin score: 1.9 ± 1.3) but 73% of the patients suffered from delirium (TELECOM test: 19 ± 10). A cerebral dysfunction (39% of the patients) altered significantly the cognitive performances without repercussion on consciousness. Morphine or benzodiazepine doses were correlated with neither the awareness scores, nor the cognitive functions, nor the life expectancy. In our hospital, the use of sedation is not frequent: no sedation according to the SFAP definition was administered the day of the study. Our study shows the discrepancies between the practices of different units and that the patients were not always properly informed of the adverse effects of the drugs. The study enabled the different teams to familiarize themselves with simple tools and to speak a same language when assessing the level of consciousness to detect early delirium which is too often underestimated.