Psychosomatics
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Although anesthetics have been used for more than a century, their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Given that a number of intraoperative and postoperative neuropsychiatric syndromes have been linked to the use of anesthetics, practitioners should familiarize themselves with these conditions. ⋯ Emergence delirium, postoperative delirium, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and intraoperative awareness can develop in association with use of inhalation anesthetics and intravenously administered anesthetics.
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Observational Study
The impact of soluble interleukin-2 receptor as a biomarker of delirium.
Biomarkers might help to predict the emergence of delirium. Advance warning of the threats of this condition could potentially reduce significant morbidity, mortality, and costs of hospitalizing patients. ⋯ High levels of sIL-2R appear to be a useful biomarker to identify patients with high risk for a delirious state.