Systematic review of clinical evidence on postoperative delirium: literature search of original studies based on validated diagnostic scales.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative delirium is a serious complication that can occur within the 5th postoperative day. In 2017, the European Society of Anesthesiologists delivered dedicated guidelines that reported the need for routine monitoring using validated scales. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this systematic review is to identify clinical studies related to postoperative delirium that included postoperative monitoring with validated scales. DESIGN: Systematic review METHODS: Searched keywords included the following terms: postoperative, postsurgical, post anesthesia, anesthesia recovery, delirium, and confusion. Two researchers independently screened retrieved studies using a data extraction form. RESULTS: Literature search led to retrieve 6475 hits; of these, 260 studies (5.6% of the retrieved), published between 1987 and 2021, included in their methods a diagnostic workup with the use of a postoperative delirium validated scale and monitored patients for more than 24 h, therefore are qualified to be included in the present systematic review. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, available clinical literature on postoperative delirium relies on a limited number of studies, that included a validated diagnostic workup based on validated scales, extracted from a large series of studies that used inconsistent diagnostic criteria. In order to extract indications based on reliable evidence-based criteria, these are the studies that should be selectively considered. The analysis of these studies can also serve to design future projects and to test clinical hypothesis with a more standardized methodological approach.

Variation of symptoms during the menstrual cycle in female patients with gastroparesis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroparesis, a chronic gastric motility disorder with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, early satiety, postprandial fullness and bloating, predominantly affects women. Some studies suggest that gastric emptying may be slower in females especially during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle when estrogen and progesterone levels are elevated. In females with irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms may worsen during the luteal phase. The aim of this study was to determine if symptoms of gastroparesis vary along the menstrual cycle and to determine the effect of oral contraceptive agents (OCPs) on symptoms. METHODS: Thirty-nine premenopausal women were studied (10 gastroparesis patients not on OCPs, 10 gastroparesis on OCPs, nine healthy women not on OCPs and 10 healthy women on OCPs). The Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index Daily Diary was used to assess daily symptoms (0=none and 5=very severe). KEY RESULTS: Gastroparesis patients not on OCPs had significantly worse symptoms during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase for nausea (2.25±0.68 vs 1.58±1.06; P<0.001) and early satiety (2.80±0.50 vs 1.70±1.50; P<0.001), but not for vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, fullness, or loss of appetite. Gastroparesis patients on OCPs showed little day-to-day variation of symptoms. Vomiting was more severe in patients off OCPs (2.00±0.80 vs 1.20±0.83; P=0.040). Healthy women exhibited little to no symptoms regardless of OCP use. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Increased symptoms, particularly nausea and early satiety, occurred in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in female patients with gastroparesis. A variation in symptoms was not seen in gastroparesis female patients on hormonal contraception.

Subclinical hypothyroidism and Down's syndrome; studies on myocardial structure and function.

BACKGROUND: The management of subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) is still controversial, as the benefit to risk ratio of prolonged L-thyroxine therapy is not clear cut. Some authors have shown abnormalities of myocardial function and structure in adults with SH, which could be reversed by L-thyroxine therapy. As SH frequently affects children with Down's syndrome (DS), and almost one half of these are affected by congenital heart disease, a concomitant SH related impairment of cardiac function might further compromise their clinical condition. AIMS: To establish whether SH influences myocardial structure and function in children with DS. METHODS: Sixteen children with DS and untreated SH and 25 matched euthyroid controls with DS underwent echocardiographic analysis of left ventricular mechanics and tissue characterisation. RESULTS: None of the 16 patients had myocardial impairment. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that children with DS who have SH are not at risk of cardiac disease. Clinicians should consider these data in the management of SH, as the benefit to risk ratio of prolonged L-thyroxine therapy is not clear cut.