Delirium

When you are critically unwell your whole body is affected including your brain. Delirium is the name for a new confusion often caused by infection, medications (e.g., sedatives) and organ failure. Some critical care patients are more likely to get delirium, for example those who are older, those that have been on breathing machine or were forgetful before becoming unwell.

You may experience hallucinations, hear, or feel things that are not real. This can be very distressing especially if you are unable to talk or move.

Common signs of delirium:

• Feeling agitated / withdrawn
• Upset and restless at night
• Not engaging with staff or activities
• Sleeping lots

Patients with delirium can find it very difficult to understand or remember information. Even if they appear to understand what is happening and join in with a conversation, they may not remember what has just been said to them.

Techniques for helping delirium:

• Lumie (daylight) Lamps
• Photographs of family etc
• ICU Diary
• Normalising day / routines
• Orientation date/ time
• Favourite music

Delirium is usually temporary and can last days to several weeks, depending on your physical recovery. However, it can cause longer term problems with brain function, including difficulties with concentration, short term memory and problem solving. Often these will improve over the first six months after discharge, however a small number of patients may never fully recover. Patients who have a pre-existing memory or cognitive problems are more likely to have longer term effects or deterioration of cognitive abilities. If you feel this is the case, please discuss this with your GP who can refer you to the memory gateway.