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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 3/2007

01-06-2007 | Review

Clinical review: Agitation and delirium in the critically ill – significance and management

Authors: Jean-Claude Chevrolet, Philippe Jolliet

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 3/2007

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Abstract

Agitation is a psychomotor disturbance characterized by a marked increase in motor and psychological activity in a patient. It occurs very frequently in the intensive care setting. It may be isolated, or accompanied by other mental disorders, such as severe anxiety and delirium. Frequently, agitation is a sign of brain dysfunction and, as such, may have adverse consequences, for at least two reasons. First, agitation can interfere with the patient's care and second, there is evidence demonstrating that the prognosis of agitated (and delirious) patients is worse than that of non-agitated (non-delirious) patients. These conditions are often under-diagnosed in the intensive care unit (ICU). Consequently, a systematic evaluation of this problem in ICU patients should be conducted. Excellent tools are presently available for this purpose. Treatment, including prevention, must be undertaken without delay, and the ICU physician should follow logical, strict and systematic rules when applying therapy.
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Metadata
Title
Clinical review: Agitation and delirium in the critically ill – significance and management
Authors
Jean-Claude Chevrolet
Philippe Jolliet
Publication date
01-06-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 3/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5787

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