Nursing delirium management to promoting critically ill patients’ safety: an umbrella review

Delirium is an acute disorder characterized by changes in the patient's cognitive function, which another neurocognitive or pre-existing disease cannot explain. It produces adverse outcomes for critically ill patients and their families related to adverse events associated with the accidental removal of medical devices that increase the risk of the patient and the length of stay at the hospital, manifested by agitation and confusion behaviors. Five reviewers conducted An Umbrella Review from May to August 2023 through research in the databases Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and articles obtained through research in other sources. After verifying their eligibility, we obtained 22 systematic reviews and meta-analyses for data extraction and analysis. From the results obtained, the importance of the implementation of surveillance interventions and systematic evaluation of the presence of delirium is highlighted, with particular emphasis on the use of the scale, Confusion Assessment Method, followed by the implementation of multicomponent interventions, pharmacological or not, highlighting the use of dexmedetomidine and family as support, as well early mobilization for the management of delirium. Managing delirium in critically ill patients based on Meyer and Lavin's theory, is an area sensitive to nursing care with an impact on the prevention of complications and consequent promotion of the safety of these patients, which also translates into positive results for the family and health organizations, reducing morbidity, mortality, length of stay and health costs.