Podcast # 458: A Tylenol a Day Keeps the Delirium Away?

Author: Nick Hatch, MD

Educational Pearls:

• A recent study investigated the effect of scheduled IV acetaminophen on the incidence of delirium in post-CABG patients in the ICU
• The use of scheduled IV acetaminophen reduced the rate of delirium in these patients compared to placebo
• This may be due to the analgesic effect of acetaminophen and/or less requirement on other deliriogenic medications (opiates)

References

Subramaniam B, Shankar P, Shaefi S, Mueller A, O'Gara B, Banner-Goodspeed V, Gallagher J, Gasangwa D, Patxot M, Packiasabapathy S, Mathur P, Eikermann M, Talmor D, Marcantonio ER. Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen vs Placebo Combined With Propofol or Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Delirium Among Older Patients Following Cardiac Surgery: The DEXACET Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019 Feb 19;321(7):686-696. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0234. PubMed PMID: 30778597.

Summarized by Will Dewispelaere, MS3 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD