Management of pediatric delirium in critical illness: a practical update

S. G. L. Van Tuijl, Y.J.M. van Cauteren, T. Pikhard, M. Engel, J. N. M. Schieveld*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Pediatric delirium (PD) is an acute state of brain dysfunction and is often seen in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). There is a growing awareness of its clinical interdisciplinary importance. The aim of this article was to describe the three clinical presentations, to evaluate the differential diagnosis and to give a concise and practical update for the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of PD at the PICU, based on recent literature and expert opinions. We discuss an interdisciplinary flow chart which helps the reader dealing with the diagnosis and management of any acute emotional and or behavioral disturbance, of which PD is a special case.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)333-341
JournalMinerva Anestesiologica
Volume81
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2015

Keywords

  • Child psychiatry
  • Critical care
  • Delirium

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