POST-CARDIOTOMY DELIRUM
P. H. BLACHY M.D.1, and
ALBERT STARR M.D.1
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry; and Associate Professor of Surgery, Univ. of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Ore.
A delirium occurring in 57% of 139 patients who survived open heart surgery is described. The development, onset, and duration of the delirium is closely related to the seriousness of illness pre-operatively and the degree of stress during surgery and the post-operative period. It is less closely related to age and male sex, and blood type may play a minor role. The surprising finding that pre-operative psychiatric disturbances was related to operative mortality, but not to development of delirium is discussed.
