Short dose of intravenous sedative may prevent postoperative delirium after heart surgery

Postoperative delirium—a behavioral state characterized by confused thinking and a lack of awareness—occurs in 10–30% of older patients who are recovering from heart surgery, and it has been linked with long-term cognitive deficits, prolonged hospitalization and institutionalization, and an increased risk of early death, resulting in total attributable health care costs of approximately $32.9 billion annually.