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Article: Unreal experiences: clinical advice for the care of patients with post-operative confusion.(CLINICAL CONNECTIONS)
- Article from:
- Connect: The World of Critical Care Nursing
- Article date:
- April 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Connect Healthcare Publishing Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Key words: Clinical advice *delirium *intensive care *post-operative confusion
SUMMARY
* Post-operative confusion is a relatively common and well-known condition in patients who are treated in intensive care units. As many as 72% of all patients who are treated in intensive care exhibit signs of confusion. It is a psychosis-like condition in which patients can have difficulty in co-ordinating thought and speech, in orientating themselves in time and space, and in receiving and processing information.
* Some patients can have occasional unreal experiences. Suspicion, fear, anxiety and aggressive behaviour can develop. Certain patients become ...