Postoperative falls in the acute hospital setting: characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes in males.

Background: Hospital falls are an important cause of morbidity in older surgical patients. The objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes for postoperative falls.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients who were admitted to the hospital for more than 23 hours after surgery.

Postoperative delirium in the elderly: risk factors and outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the natural history, identify risk factors, and determine outcomes for the development of postoperative delirium in the elderly.

Background: Postoperative delirium is a common and deleterious complication in geriatric patients.

Methods: Subjects older than 50 years scheduled for an operation requiring a postoperative intensive care unit admission were recruited.

Risk factors for delirium after major trauma.

Background: This study aimed to describe the natural history of delirium after major injury, to identify risk factors that predict the development of postinjury delirium, and to compare outcome measures in subjects with and without delirium.

Methods: A prospective study was performed on patients with an injury severity score of 8 or higher admitted to the trauma intensive care unit (ICU) of a level I trauma center. Patients underwent daily assessments for delirium with the Confusion Assessment Method-ICU.

Low tryptophan levels are associated with postoperative delirium in the elderly.

Background: Postoperative delirium is a common complication in geriatric patients. Tryptophan is an amino acid precursor to the mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin. We hypothesized that tryptophan levels are lower in elderly subjects who develop postoperative delirium.