Introduction:

Postoperative delirium (DPO) is a frequent complication associated with cardiac and noncardiac surgery, especially in the elderly. There seems to be a correlation between DPO as a complication and a decline in quality of life and higher mortality.

Objective:

To determine the frequency of delirium in the immediate postoperative period, in patients older than 60 years.

Methods:

An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed in patients older than 60 years of age who underwent surgery at the National Hospital of Itauguá in 2016 using the CAM-ICU scale.

Results:

A total of 160 patients were examined, 55% were male and 45% female. 80% were scheduled surgeries and 20% of emergencies. Twenty patients with DPO were found. Of the patients with DPO, 45% were submitted to general anesthesia, 20% to spinal anesthesia, 20% to epidural anesthesia plus general anesthesia and 15% to regional block plus general anesthesia. 55% of the cases of DPO were surgeries of 3 or more hours, 40% of surgeries of 2-3 hours and 5% of surgeries of 1 hour or less in duration.

Conclusions:

The frequency of DPO was 12.5%. The highest frequency was found in the age group of 70 - 79 years, in surgeries of more than 3 hours duration and in general anesthesia.

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