Role of oral melatonin in prevention of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia: A Randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative delirium is a common complication in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. We aimed to minimize the incidence with an oral dose of 3 mg of melatonin administered the night before surgery.

Methods: Hundred and sixty-two patients aged 40-80 years posted for various urological and gastrointestinal surgeries under general anesthesia with no preoperative cognitive deficits were randomly distributed equally to melatonin or control groups.