Haloperidol prophylaxis does not prevent postoperative delirium in elderly patients: a randomized, open-label prospective trial.

Purpose: Postoperative delirium is the most common postoperative complication in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the preventive administration of low-dose haloperidol on the development of postoperative delirium after abdominal or orthopedic surgery in elderly patients.

Subjects: A total of 119 patients aged 75 years or older who underwent elective surgery for digestive or orthopedic disease were included in this study.