Argentine survey about delirium in pediatrics critical patients

Abstract

Introduction: Delirium is an event associated with the care of the critically ill patient. Pediatric studies have shown that delirium is present in at least 25% of critically ill children and can be as high as 38% in children who stay in the PICU for more than 5 days. The tools validated for its correct detection are the Cornell Scale, PCAM ICU and psPCAM-ICU. There is no standardized treatment, its proper management is based on the prevention of modifiable risk factors.

Objective: To know concepts and practices of doctors and nurses who attend critically ill pediatric patients, in the diagnosis, management and prevention of delirium in Argentina.

Population and Methods: Doctors and nurses from the PICU of different provinces, through a survey distributed by email, during the year 2018.

Results: Of 170 doctors and nurses invited to participate, 113 responded. 85.32% consider delirium an expected event in the PICU, 87.16% that delirium is underdiagnosed and 90.27% that it is a situation that requires intervention. Only 12.38% received sufficient training. The most widely used scale was the Cornell scale, while the most used form of detection was the clinical examination of the treating physician. 65.48% consider the use of benzodiazepines useful for the treatment of delirium.

Conclusions: Delirium in the critically ill pediatric patient is considered an underdiagnosed event and requires intervention. The results highlight the need to improve delirium training in critically ill pediatric patients.