Intensive care unit delirium: a review of the literature.

Purpose: The recent literature regarding intensive care unit (ICU) delirium and updated clinical practice guidelines are reviewed.

Summary: Recent studies show that ICU delirium in critically ill patients is an independent predictor of higher mortality, longer ICU and hospital stay, and is associated with multiple clinical complications. Delirium has been reported to occur in greater than 80% of hospitalized critically ill patients, yet it remains an underdiagnosed condition.