• Babar A Khan, Anthony J Perkins, Noll L Campbell, Sujuan Gao, Sikandar H Khan, Sophia Wang, Mikita Fuchita, Daniel J Weber, Ben L Zarzaur, Malaz A Boustani, and Kenneth Kesler.
• Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
• J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Dec 1; 66 (12): 2289-2297.

ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of haloperidol in reducing postoperative delirium in individuals undergoing thoracic surgery.DesignRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.SettingSurgical intensive care unit (ICU) of tertiary care center.ParticipantsIndividuals undergoing thoracic surgery (N=135).InterventionLow-dose intravenous haloperidol (0.5 mg three times daily for a total of 11 doses) administered postoperatively.MeasurementsThe primary outcome was delirium incidence during hospitalization. Secondary outcomes were time to delirium, delirium duration, delirium severity, and ICU and hospital length of stay. Delirium was assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU and delirium severity using the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised.ResultsSixty-eight participants were randomized to receive haloperidol and 67 placebo. No significant differences were observed between those receiving haloperidol and those receiving placebo in incident delirium (n=15 (22.1%) vs n=19 (28.4%); p = .43), time to delirium (p = .43), delirium duration (median 1 day, interquartile range (IQR) 1-2 days vs median 1 day, IQR 1-2 days; p = .71), delirium severity, ICU length of stay (median 2.2 days, IQR 1-3.3 days vs median 2.3 days, IQR 1-4 days; p = .29), or hospital length of stay (median 10 days, IQR 8-11.5 days vs median 10 days, IQR 8-12 days; p = .41). In the esophagectomy subgroup (n = 84), the haloperidol group was less likely to experience incident delirium (n=10 (23.8%) vs n=17 (40.5%); p = .16). There were no differences in time to delirium (p = .14), delirium duration (median 1 day, IQR 1-2 days vs median 1 day, IQR 1-2 days; p = .71), delirium severity, or hospital length of stay (median 11 days, IQR 10-12 days vs median days 11, IQR 10-15 days; p = .26). ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the haloperidol group (median 2.8 days, IQR 1.1-3.8 days vs median 3.1 days, IQR 2.1-5.1 days; p = .03). Safety events were comparable between the groups.ConclusionLow-dose postoperative haloperidol did not reduce delirium in individuals undergoing thoracic surgery but may be efficacious in those undergoing esophagectomy. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2289-2297, 2018.© 2018, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2018, The American Geriatrics Society.

27 keywords...

hide…