Delirium: an under-recognized problem

Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2007 Dec;11(6):805-7. doi: 10.1188/07.CJON.805-807.

Abstract

Ms. G, a 78-year-old woman with a history of heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%, had an exploratory laparotomy with colon resection and colostomy two days ago for an obstructive stage IIIB adenocarcinoma of the colon. She is a patient on a general surgical unit. Upon assessment at 7 am, Ms. G was easily aroused and oriented. She has a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain control with 1 mg of morphine available every 30 minutes; she used a total of 4 mg of morphine via IV since midnight. Ms. G requires belladonna and opium suppositories about every eight hours to treat bladder spasms associated with her urinary catheter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Aged
  • Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / adverse effects*
  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects*
  • Belladonna Alkaloids / adverse effects
  • Causality
  • Colonic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Colostomy / adverse effects
  • Delirium / chemically induced*
  • Delirium / diagnosis
  • Delirium / prevention & control
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Morphine / adverse effects
  • Nursing Assessment
  • Opium / adverse effects
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Postoperative Care / methods
  • Postoperative Care / nursing
  • Urinary Catheterization / adverse effects

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Belladonna Alkaloids
  • Morphine
  • Opium