Study Investigating Oral Health and Its Link to Delirium in Adults Undergoing Cardiac or Thoracic Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Delirium is a clinical syndrome marked by sudden attention problems, changes in consciousness, and fluctuating thinking abilities. It often occurs in hospitalized elderly patients after surgery, especially in intensive care units, leading to worse recovery, higher death rates, longer hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. This research investigates how oral health, particularly a condition called oral frailty, may be linked to postoperative delirium and cognitive decline in surgical patients. The study observes surgical patients who have or do not have oral frailty before elective cardiac or thoracic surgery requiring endotracheal intubation. Oral frailty is assessed using a specific scale before surgery. Participants are grouped based on the presence or absence of oral frailty to explore its relationship with delirium and other postoperative outcomes. Participants will be monitored for delirium within one week after surgery. Other evaluations include swallowing ability, appetite, and blood protein levels measured within 48 hours after removing the breathing tube, as well as routine postoperative blood tests during the first week. The study aims to understand connections between oral health and cognitive changes after surgery, potentially guiding future prevention strategies. Participation lasts throughout the perioperative and early postoperative period.

A Study on the Correlation Between Oral Health and Delirium in Surgical Inpatients