Research progress of postoperative delirium in neurosurgery.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common but underrecognized complication, especially in elderly neurosurgical patients. It is a transient syndrome of encephalopathy marked by disturbances in consciousness, orientation, cognition, perception, and emotional regulation, sometimes with hallucinations or agitation. POD prolongs mechanical ventilation, intensive care stays, and hospitalization, and severely reduces quality of life after discharge. This review examines the definition, diagnostic criteria, pathogenesis, and risk factors of POD in neurosurgical patients, aiming to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Delirium is a transient and acute syndrome of encephalopathy, characterized by disturbances in consciousness, orientation, cognition, perception, and emotional regulation, often accompanied by hallucinations, illusions, psychomotor agitation, and restlessness. Postoperative delirium (POD), a common complication particularly in elderly patients, significantly impacts recovery by prolonging mechanical ventilation, neurosurgical intensive care unit stays, and overall hospitalization durations, while severely diminishing patients' quality of life after discharge. Despite its prevalence, POD remains underrecognized in clinical practice, with significant gaps in its diagnosis and management. This review explores the definition, diagnostic criteria, underlying pathogenesis, and associated risk factors of POD in neurosurgical patients, aiming to offer valuable insights for improving clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.