Introduction
delirium, attention disturbance, postoperative pain, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, postoperative delirium, POCD, Delirium
SECONDARY, POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATION
Delirium is an acute, fluctuating mental state characterized by impaired awareness and attention disturbance that develops over a short period (usually hours to days). Postoperative delirium (POD) is a serious postoperative complication that can last up to 5 days after surgery and has negative consequences such as increased mortality and financial cost. POD is frequently associated with deteriorating cognition, known as postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) [This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial aimed to evaluate whether a single dose of ketamine or dexmedetomidine before induction of general anesthesia could reduce postoperative delirium incidence (primary outcome), postoperative cognitive dysfunction, postoperative pain, and opioid consumption (secondary outcome) in elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery.